One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => View from the Outer => Topic started by: one-eyed on November 15, 2005, 03:09:38 AM
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Football TV offer nears $700m
By Caroline Wilson
Chief Football Writer
The Age
November 15, 2005
A SIX-YEAR free-to-air offer worth more than $400 million could prove the knock-out punch for Channel Seven and Channel Ten in the battle for the AFL broadcast rights.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou is believed to have told his commission over the past two days of the Seven and Ten offer, which the league has admitted privately contains the added attraction of vastly improved coverage into trouble spots NSW and Queensland.
The final figure should approach $700 million once the contribution of pay-TV provider Foxtel is factored in.
While the AFL Commission yesterday concluded two days of talks at a Mornington Peninsula golf resort, the Seven Network dropped part of its legal action against Ten and agreed to attempt to resolve its potential billion-dollar legal action against the AFL out of court.
And in another strong indication that the AFL could be on the verge of a new broadcasting deal beyond 2006, Foxtel is believed to have accepted unofficially the Seven and Ten team as potential media partners and could in return receive exclusive Sunday twilight games between 2007 and 2012.
The Seven and Ten deal, which was presented to the AFL last week, includes:
■ An average annual free-to-air rights cash amount averaging $70 million a year over six years. (Next season Channels Nine and Ten will pay $57 million.)
■ Five free-to-air games each weekend of the home-and-away season with Ten televising two back-to-back Saturday games as under the current deal and Seven televising Friday night football and two Sunday games.
■ Both networks sharing the finals and splitting grand finals and Brownlow Medal counts, alternating on an annual basis.
■ Friday night football broadcast into Sydney from 10.30pm on Seven, about an hour earlier than it is now.
■ Improved regional coverage of Friday night football into NSW and Queensland, with Seven affiliate Prime televising matches from between 8.30 and 9.30pm into Canberra, western NSW and the Gold Coast.
■ Channel Ten to continue to televise prime-time football on Saturday nights into Brisbane and Sydney.
The AFL Commission, which spent Sunday and Monday at Moonah Links at Fingal, near Rye, deliberating the game's biggest issues, including TV rights, tribunal reforms, priority picks and game development, is now expected to take the Seven-Ten offer to Channel Nine, which plans to make its bid alongside Foxtel.
Foxtel paid $30 million a year over five years for the last pay-TV rights and while a Seven-Ten deal would mean its weekly allotment of three games and no finals does not change, the exclusive Sunday early evening timeslot would prove a major boost to the pay network, which has proved its commitment with its off-field programming.
Foxtel now receives what are regarded as the least interesting three games of the round. That is also expected to change.
The next stage in the rights bidding process will be to give Nine an opportunity to outbid the Seven and Ten consortium, with the latter then given an opportunity to match any bid by Nine under the first-and-last bid agreement.
The AFL clubs will meet the commission and its executive on Thursday to learn the latest in the broadcast negotiations, a process that began in March when Ten angered the AFL by switching camps and joining forces with Seven.
The Kerry Stokes-owned network was the AFL rights holder for most of the previous four decades until it lost the rights to the News Limited consortium of Nine, Ten and Foxtel — a combination that Seven claimed led to the destruction of its pay-TV network C7, which is the subject of the legal action.
While the next round of AFL rights was expected to last for five years, Seven and Ten are pushing for a six-year deal, so they can evenly split finals.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/11/14/1131951100410.html
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The final figure should approach $700 million once the contribution of pay-TV provider Foxtel is factored in.
Woh! Loose change anyone :P :gobdrop
■ Improved regional coverage of Friday night football into NSW and Queensland, with Seven affiliate Prime televising matches from between 8.30 and 9.30pm into Canberra, western NSW and the Gold Coast.
Julz won't have to wait up to midnight anymore to see Richo and Simmo lol.
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Wouldn't mind a 1% commission on the sale :cheers
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Well it looks like the TV rights are about to take another turn and get really interesting :rollin as the AFL & Ch 7 appear to have kissed and made up - well sort of ;D. Seven are no longer suing the AFL - still suing everyone else. First there was 22 now there only 21. :rollin
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TV dispute over
5:47:32 PM Thu 1 December, 2005
Paul Gough
Sportal for afl.com.au
A major hurdle in the path of the next AFL television rights agreement has been removed after the Seven Network ended its legal action against the AFL on Thursday in relation to the demise of its pay TV channel C7.
The league is hopeful of finalising its new television agreement, covering the 2007-2011 seasons, before Christmas but was being frustrated in this attempt by a long running court battle over the demise of C7 - which related to the last AFL television deal which saw the rights awarded to Channels Nine, Ten and Foxtel.
Seven is bidding with Channel Ten to regain the AFL rights it held until 2002 but has already rejected the league's initial asking price of $140 million a year - up from the $100 million a year paid by Nine, Ten and Foxtel for the rights from 2002 to 2006.
While these negotiations have been taking place Seven has been suing 22 media and sporting entities in the Federal Court, seeking more than $1 billion in damages, over the collapse of C7 following the loss of the AFL rights in 2002 - which saw Foxtel gain the pay television rights to show AFL matches.
However while the case is continuing, Seven is no longer suing the AFL having reached an out of court settlement with the league.
While this would appear to boost Seven's chances of regaining the television rights, the league is still furious at the amount of money it has had to spend already in defending itself against Seven's legal action.
"The AFL has expended in excess of $7.0 million in defending this claim and expected to expend a further $3.5 million in 2006," the league said in a statement on Thursday night.
"The AFL retains the right and intends to seek costs from Channel Seven in due course."
While the Seven/Ten consortium has the luxury of bidding last for the television rights, Nine has already indicated its determination to retain the rights - even though its' broadcasting partner over the past four years in Ten has switched its allegiance to Seven.
It is believed Nine is willing to pay the $140 million a year the AFL is seeking but its major stumbling block in retaining the rights is its inability to show Friday night games live into New South Wales and Queensland.
The AFL is determined those crucial markets will not be deprived of live Friday night football in the next television deal, as they have been under the current deal, but Nine is committed to showing rugby league in prime-time on Friday nights in New South Wales and Queensland.
However Nine believes it can still win the rights by forming an alliance with Foxtel and convincing the AFL that Friday night games in New South Wales and Queensland could be shown live in those states through Foxtel's AFL channel.
This would also suit Foxtel, which has already told the AFL it will only remain involved in broadcasting football if it receives higher profile games in the next deal that it has under the current deal - which has seen Foxtel allocated the least three attractive games each round with none of those being in prime-time.
The AFL would not comment when asked what the latest developments meant to the likely outcome of the next television agreement but with the court action now out of the way, the league can concentrate on securing its next television deal as soon as possible.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=239253
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Somehow I don't think Eddie McEverywhere is going to have a happy Xmas ;) ;D
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http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/12/01/1133422047112.html
Says all clubs are going to get 200k out of this, wonder if that'll effect how many rookies we take now!
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Says all clubs are going to get 200k out of this, wonder if that'll effect how many rookies we take now!
It depends on when the AFL pays it. Seeing they had budgeted the legal costs in 2006 I would think they will distribute it in the 2006 - not 2005.
:thumbsup
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After reading this article is there anyone Andy D. doesn't love?
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Casting vote near in TV-rights battle
19 December 2005 Herald Sun
Damian Barrett
THE AFL'S hopes of resolving the game's broadcast rights before Christmas will hinge on a meeting of its commissioners today.
Chief executive Andrew Demetriou and general manager, broadcasting, strategy and major projects, Ben Buckley will update the eight commissioners at a gathering in Melbourne.
Football's most important issue is delicately poised, with commissioners needing to weigh a financially lucrative offer against one that promises to promote the game in the northern states.
A Channel 9-Foxtel consortium has indicated to the AFL it would meet, under certain circumstances, its $140 million-a-year request.
The Nine-Foxtel bid is about $15 million a year more than the Channels 7 and 10 bid.
It is understood to be a five-year deal, taking in 2007-11, meaning its offer could be $75 million more than its rival.
The Seven-10 alliance is better placed to televise the game live, and near live, in the significant NSW and Queensland markets.
It wants a six-year contract, which would allow both networks to exclusively broadcast three finals series.
Lawyers for all parties have slowed negotiations throughout the year, and they again threaten to delay settlement.
Demetriou said last week it was the AFL's intention to determine its post-2006 broadcasters before its offices were shut down for Christmas.
"I hope it is before Christmas, because I can't go to too many more meetings," he said. "I love everybody dearly, but I can't keep meeting guys.
"We have done enough work and had enough meetings to be pretty close to being able to at least try to get to the end stages.
"We have come close and we have always thought we would try and do it before Christmas. We might get there. But if we don't, it shouldn't be too further beyond Christmas."
Demetriou promised that the winning bid would benefit all facets of the game.
"Whatever the outcome and whoever it is and whatever the result financially, it will be a terrific outcome for our supporters and the game," Demetriou said.
"We have been really pleased with the competition, really pleased all the broadcasters want our product.
"We have great relationships with every broadcaster, including Seven. :o :o
"We are pleased to be out of litigation (with Seven).
"We have been thrilled Nine has covered our games so superbly.
"We are thrilled with the 24-hour footy channel (Fox Footy), and Ten has done a great job."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,17605076%255E20322,00.html
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Demetriou promised that the winning bid would benefit all facets of the game.
"Whatever the outcome and whoever it is and whatever the result financially, it will be a terrific outcome for our supporters and the game," Demetriou said.
If you are really fair dinkum about this Andy D. then the decision is pretty simple. It will be interesting to see if he keeps his word.
Remember this is what he said back in June of this year:
“There are other qualitative issues that are important to us - things like enhanced coverage of the game in Sydney and Brisbane on Friday night and getting rid of some of those blackspots (in terms of prime time coverage) such as on the Gold Coast, in Wagga and in the ACT”
Demetriou said ensuring such situations did not arise in the next television agreement was foremost tin the AFL's negotiations.
"And we are prepared to sacrifice dollars for that because it is important you get to show football to as many people as you can," he said.”
Refer to link:
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=211717
So I would think that decreasing the FTA coverage from a 5/3 split to a 4/4 split which is what Ch 9 & Foxtell want would not really be considered? Cause it's not just about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is it Andy D.?
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AFL delays broadcast rights decision
December 19, 2005 - 12:47PM
The AFL will delay its final decision on the new broadcast rights deal until after Christmas.
The league was hopeful of resolving the issue this week, but the AFL commission has decided that it wants more time.
The AFL is weighing up rival bids from Channel Nine and Foxtel on one side and Channels Seven and 10 on the other, with the new multi-million deal to start in 2007.
© 2005 AAP
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/AFL-delays-broadcast-rights-decision/2005/12/19/1134840776171.html
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:help How hard can it be really :banghead
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Nine's NRL commitments mean it can't compete with the Seven/Ten bid in terms of what's best for the game. The problem is Andy D can smell the $$$$ signs being waved underneath his nose by Nine. Not to mention that one large Victorian club has alot to lose if there's a change of networks.
I'm not a fan of Sandy Robert's commentary but anything that stops Eddie commentating Collingwood games has to be a good move. I hope Cometti returns to Seven alongside Bruce.
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As everyone knows I am bit like a dog with bone on this topic........... >:( ;D
But I was "gobsmacked" :gobdrop when I read Caro's article this morning..................
Here it is: :o
AFL waits for Nine to outdo bid
By Caroline Wilson
December 20, 2005
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday told his commission that he was still hopeful of coming close to his annual requested figure of $135 million for the next round of broadcast rights from 2007.
While Channel Seven and Channel Ten increased its detailed six-year bid by close to $40 million four days ago, Demetriou said his broadcast sub-committee had not responded to the offer and was still waiting for a better financial deal to be placed on the table by the Nine Network.
With Seven and Ten having the right to match any offer by Nine it appears that a deal, as expected, will not be achieved by Christmas, and the poker game being contested by the networks - with Foxtel prepared to televise football with either party but preferring Nine, which has offered it potentially half of each season's home-and-away games - now seems certain to drag into January.
The AFL Commission was told yesterday that neither Channel Nine, which is expected to share the next broadcast rights with Foxtel if successful, nor the Seven-Ten consortium has offered adequate money for either the five or six-year period beyond the end of 2006.
Channel Seven and Ten last Friday increased its six-year bid from an estimated $700 million over six years to about $740 million, in an offer which includes prime time coverage into Sydney every Saturday night of the home-and-away season whether the Swans are playing or not.
That amount includes a guaranteed figure of close to $50 million a year from Foxtel, with Seven and Ten pledging to broadcast all eight games should Foxtel refuse to pay an adequate amount given the lack of pay TV competition.
The AFL has not responded to the Seven-Ten official bid, an offer its commissioners concede will provide superior coverage into New South Wales and Queensland but which Demetriou has said is no better than the Nine-Foxtel offer, which is yet to be placed on the table.
The Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions, which have seen regional coverage of football into their states reduced, are backing Seven and Ten while a number of Victorian clubs have told the AFL to take the best monetary offer - still expected to come from Nine but having not yet materialised.
The AFL's move in not responding to the latest Seven and Ten bid has seen the Nine Network pushed again to place a higher bid.
Although Nine has told the league it will provide as much free-to-air coverage as required, its rugby league commitments mean that the station could attempt to offload its Saturday fixtures to Channel Ten.
Neither the ABC nor SBS was initially willing to join forces with Nine but the AFL has indicated the Nine bid could still prove a winner with the final offer yet to be completed.
The commission was told that further meetings with Nine would take place this week. Seven and Ten are also expected to hold more talks with the AFL before Christmas. Either way, commission chairman Ron Evans reiterated after yesterday's talks that a deal would now seem unlikely before the new year.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/12/19/1134840795292.html
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Nine's NRL commitments mean it can't compete with the Seven/Ten bid in terms of what's best for the game. The problem is Andy D can smell the $$$$ signs being waved underneath his nose by Nine. Not to mention that one large Victorian club has alot to lose if there's a change of networks.
Got it in one MT and that's the most annoying thing in my view. Andy D seems so despearate to keep Channel 9 he has lost sight of what's best for the competition overall. Sure the $$$ are important but so is exposurer on FTA TV - this helps CLubs attract sponsors, keep sponsors.
While Channel Seven and Channel Ten increased its detailed six-year bid by close to $40 million four days ago, Demetriou said his broadcast sub-committee had not responded to the offer and was still waiting for a better financial deal to be placed on the table by the Nine Network.
So does this mean that officially Channel 9/Foxtel have not bid ??? Also, I read somewhere (I think it was in the HUN) that someone from the AFL was helping Ch 9/Foxtel put together thier bid. WTF ??? :o
Channel Seven and Ten last Friday increased its six-year bid from an estimated $700 million over six years to about $740 million, in an offer which includes prime time coverage into Sydney every Saturday night of the home-and-away season whether the Swans are playing or not.
This is a massive offer by Ch 10 - I think it shows how serious this group actually is. The other group are just promising live coverage on PayTV which is what we get now.
The AFL has not responded to the Seven-Ten official bid, an offer its commissioners concede will provide superior coverage into New South Wales and Queensland but which Demetriou has said is no better than the Nine-Foxtel offer, which is yet to be placed on the table.
Their offers not on the table ::)
The Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions, which have seen regional coverage of football into their states reduced, are backing Seven and Ten while a number of Victorian clubs have told the AFL to take the best monetary offer - still expected to come from Nine but having not yet materialised.
I think a few of the Victorian Clubs better think again. When the last deal was announced struggling Clubs (especially the Bulldogs, North) were doing cart-wheels saying they were saved financially. Gotta a newsflash - they are still struggling - see today's papers about North
As I said yesterday - I don't understand the delay because it's not just about the $$$ remember, Andy D said so back in June >:(
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Sure the $$$ are important but so is exposurer on FTA TV - this helps CLubs attract sponsors, keep sponsors.
AFG particularly and Motorola would prefer the national coverage of their brand into NSW and OLD. If they then believe this exposure is vital to their business interests then the RFC will benefit though more $$$ being offered when the next contract comes up for negotiation.
The AFL has not responded to the Seven-Ten official bid, an offer its commissioners concede will provide superior coverage into New South Wales and Queensland but which Demetriou has said is no better than the Nine-Foxtel offer, which is yet to be placed on the table.
Their offers not on the table ::)
If Nine put their offer on the table is that then classed as their final offer which Seven/Ten only have to top or is their a bidding process of multiple bids until someone bails?
I think a few of the Victorian Clubs better think again. When the last deal was announced struggling Clubs (especially the Bulldogs, North) were doing cart-wheels saying they were saved financially. Gotta a newsflash - they are still struggling - see today's papers about North
Spot on WP.
Then again when the CBF handout gives certain clubs a significant advantage >:( over other clubs who are cutting costs to pay their own way, it's not surprising these CBF receiving clubs don't want this rort to change.
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I think a few of the Victorian Clubs better think again. When the last deal was announced struggling Clubs (especially the Bulldogs, North) were doing cart-wheels saying they were saved financially. Gotta a newsflash - they are still struggling - see today's papers about North
Spot on WP.
Then again when the CBF handout gives certain clubs a significant advantage >:( over other clubs who are cutting costs to pay their own way, it's not surprising these CBF receiving clubs don't want this rort to change.
Well I reckon we've seen (read) in the last couple of weeks through North and the Doogies that despite the CBF handouts these Clubs are still losing money. All the the CBF does is make the loss smaller, but they're still losses
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Sure the $$$ are important but so is exposurer on FTA TV - this helps CLubs attract sponsors, keep sponsors.
AFG particularly and Motorola would prefer the national coverage of their brand into NSW and OLD. If they then believe this exposure is vital to their business interests then the RFC will benefit though more $$$ being offered when the next contract comes up for negotiation.
Exactly MT, seriously do you think Toyota would be doing somersaults around AFL house if FTA coverasge was reduced from 5 games a week to 4.
If Nine put their offer on the table is that then classed as their final offer which Seven/Ten only have to top or is their a bidding process of multiple bids until someone bails?
My understanding is once their offer is on the table that's it. They only get the one chance. But I just don't get it. If their offer is worth so much more than the 7/10 one why don't they just make a bid.
The other thing I don't understand is, if the figure of $135 million a year from Ch9/Fox is correct how can Ch9 justify it to its shareholders when they lose money on the footy now anyway.
They only one of the current broadcasters thatmakes any money is Ch 10 and that's because of the finals
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My understanding is once their offer is on the table that's it. They only get the one chance. But I just don't get it. If their offer is worth so much more than the 7/10 one why don't they just make a bid.
Thanks for that WP.
The other thing I don't understand is, if the figure of $135 million a year from Ch9/Fox is correct how can Ch9 justify it to its shareholders when they lose money on the footy now anyway.
From what I've heard there's a ego factor in all this in terms of hurting the opposition more. Following the logic that they'll lose more than we will type of thing :-X. Ch 7 had the footy for around 45 years so losing the rights was a body blow to them.
As for the finals I don't think KP was too happy about that lol. Ch 10 hit the jackpot in that deal.
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AFL boss spurns networks' offer
By Caroline Wilson
The Age
December 21, 2005
CONFUSION prevailed in the AFL industry yesterday over the next broadcast rights deal, with league boss Andrew Demetriou not only rejecting but refusing to respond to the Seven and Ten networks' proposal delivered five days ago.
After the AFL Commission had talks early on Monday, several AFL directors confirmed the competition had no official offer on the table for the next round of rights when the current deal expires at the end of next season.
However, channels Seven and Ten, which antagonised the AFL when they joined forces in March to bid for the rights and retain the right to match any rival offer, had put forward an offer to the league last Friday.
Demetriou told Seven and Ten executives in a curt meeting yesterday that their offer was unacceptable. It featured a revised five-year deal with a cash value of close to $600 million and unprecedented free-to-air coverage into Sydney and Brisbane.
Demetriou has kept his cards close to his chest with the networks and has not detailed publicly the reasons for his refusal, but it is understood he remains confident a Channel Nine proposal will financially outweigh that of Seven and Ten.
Demetriou would not comment yesterday on whether Nine — which is expected to bid for the next rights with Foxtel — had put forward a proposal. Nine on its own appears capable of televising only four free-to-air games a weekend.
The AFL chief also told the consortium that despite their improved coverage into Sydney and Brisbane — and key regional areas of New South Wales and Queensland — their bid is no better in terms of the developing markets than a potential Nine proposal yet to be seen.
In October the AFL requested $135 million a year over a five-year period from channels Seven and Ten — an asking price 50 per cent higher than the current agreement. Seven and Ten's response in cash terms alone is about 30 per cent better than the current agreement.
The consortium responded by requesting a six-year deal but now appears to have accepted that the AFL will accept only five years. The league believes it can secure another massive broadcast rights increase beyond 2011.
The AFL subcommittee dealing with the broadcast rights told the networks that they would have to pay more to secure a deal.
Seven and Ten last Friday put forward an official five-year offer for all eight home-and-away games each weekend of the season — along with finals and the Brownlow Medal count — worth close to $120 million a year and at least $575 million over five years.
Independent experts, who took into account the marketing and advertising components of the deal, along with the cost of regional coverage into New South Wales and Queensland, and Channel Ten's prime-time Saturday night coverage into Sydney and Brisbane, valued the offer at more than $700 million over five years.
Seven and Ten propose to televise five free-to-air games each round with Foxtel broadcasting three but the AFL will not accept a five-game offer and has insisted on a figure for all eight games given that Foxtel has no pay-TV competitor in these negotiations.
Under the deal involving Channel Nine, Friday night coverage into Sydney and Brisbane on free-to-air television would be pushed back even later because of Nine's decision to televise back-to-back rugby league matches next season.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/12/20/1135032019518.html
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CONFUSION prevailed in the AFL industry yesterday over the next broadcast rights deal, with league boss Andrew Demetriou not only rejecting but refusing to respond to the Seven and Ten networks' proposal delivered five days ago.
Demetriou has kept his cards close to his chest with the networks and has not detailed publicly the reasons for his refusal, but it is understood he remains confident a Channel Nine proposal will financially outweigh that of Seven and Ten.
Under the deal involving Channel Nine, Friday night coverage into Sydney and Brisbane on free-to-air television would be pushed back even later because of Nine's decision to televise back-to-back rugby league matches next season.
Yep, Andy D is looking after footy's long-term interests ::). Firstly not combating the new Gold Coast Titans RL team just when Aussie Rules was finally getting some decent popularity in SE QLD and now this with the proposed TV coverage or lack of it.
Poor Julz :-\.
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Well by keeping his cards close to his chest at Caro calls it Andy D, seems to have shown his hand. >:(
Channel 9 at all costs seems his policy :banghead :banghead
Gotta say from an ethical prespective it raise a helluva lot of questions and a decidedly bad taste too boot - supposedly telling the commission they didn't have an offer when they clearly have an offer and a bloody good one too regarding FTA coverage :help
The only thing Aandy D seems to looking after is Channel 9's long term interests - poor form Andy very poor form :banghead
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Seems to be only worried about the money!
Really he doesn't have much say in it, as ch7 has the last rights bid!
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I couldn't give a stuff who has the rights to air the footy as long as i can watch it on telly
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Well it appears that there's been a Christmas miracle at AFL headquarters because in the space of 3 days Ch 9/Foxtel's bid has appeared and the AFL have accepted their bid :banghead
So much for no decision until mid January
Press conference going on now
7/10 have 14 days to match the bid
A disgraceful effort by the AFL - I smell a rat
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7/10 have 14 days to match the bid
Agree WP. It is suss. Apparently that's 14 calendar days so great timing by Andy D with all the public holidays around Christmas and New Year's.
Apparently Nine/Foxtel are offering $780 million over 5 years.
Rumour on SEN has SBS joining the deal to show games live FTA on Friday nights into NSW and QLD.
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Apologies for the double post:
PBL have won the rights on behalf of Nine for $780 million over 5 years ($156 million a year)
They can on-sell up to 4 games per round to FTA or pay TV.
Andy D and Evans said there'll be "enhanced coverage in the northern states" but no details will be revealed until the final winner is declared.
Seven/Ten have 14 calender days to match the offer.
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Still the One, for now
4:48:43 PM Fri 23 December, 2005
Luke Buttigieg and Jason Phelan
Sportal for afl.com.au
The AFL has announced that it has accepted a five-year, $780 million TV broadcast rights offer from PBL on behalf of the Channel Nine network to telecast the game from 2007-2011.
After what both AFL Commission chairman Ron Evans and chief executive Andrew Demetriou both described as a 'long and thorough process', the league revealed that it has agreed terms with PBL to cover all eight games every week from 2007.
"Like everyone else at the AFL, I'm thrilled with today's announcement, but I'd just like to reinforce … that Channel Seven and Channel 10 still have the right to respond to the offer that we've accepted today," Demetriou said from Telstra Dome on Friday.
"We are delighted with the financial result. This income will greatly assist the game to grow nationally at all levels.
"We believe this is a great result for football and we hope that view will be shared by all supporters of Australia's indigenous game."
There was more to the agreement than just the dollar value, however, with market reach and exposure given equal weighting in the decision-making process.
"We have endeavoured in accepting this offer to obviously optimise our financial return, but have been absolutely conscious of the priority given to the reach and the coverage in our developing markets and, of course, the protection in South Australia and Western Australia of the free-to-air component," Demtriou continued.
Evans echoed Demetriou's sentiments.
"We have collectively worked closely with all interested parties to ensure everyone fully understands the AFL's objective of an optimal financial package combined with coverage of the game nationally," Evans said.
"The position of the AFL as Australia's premier sporting competition, we believe, has been reinforced by this decision."
As part of the arrangement, the Nine Network will then have the right to sublicense the rights to up to four matches per week to another broadcaster, either free-to-air or pay. It is expected that the Fox Footy Channel will receive the bulk of these, although it is believed that Nine is still in discussions with other free-to-air broadcasters.
But both Evans and Demetriou emphasised several times the fact that the deal is not yet over the line, rather the Channel Seven and Channel 10 alliance now has 14 days - until January 6 - to respond to the offer.
Five years ago Channel Seven paid for the first and last rights, meaning channels Seven and Ten can now claim the rights if they are willing to match PBL's offer both financially and in terms of coverage. Seven was the AFL's broadcaster between 1957 and 2001, with the exception of one year.
The 16 AFL clubs have been made aware of the broad implications of the deal, but final details of the complete package will not be made public until Channel Seven reaches its decision.
The AFL also confirmed that Friday's announcement did not include narrowband, broadband, 3G and other new media rights, which also come up for renewal at the end of 2006.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=241728
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Andrew Demetriou's remarks
4:44:08 PM Fri 23 December, 2005
Andrew Demetriou
Australian Football League
Obviously, like everyone else at the AFL, I am thrilled with today’s announcement, but I would just reinforce Ron’s comments that the Seven and Ten Networks still have the right to respond to the offer that we have accepted today.
As Ron mentioned, getting the best combination of audience coverage and financial outcome was our main objective. While the final details of the coverage will only be known when we have received our response from the 7 and 10 Networks, we know that nationally, coverage will be better than we have currently, especially in our key growth markets.
Obviously the financial offer is also important. It may surprise some of you to know that since the last broadcasting rights were negotiated, the number of participants nationally has grown by another 100,000, with 60,000 more children in Auskick alone.
This means there is also growth in the demand for grounds, club rooms, training facilities, equipment, coaching materials, volunteers and uniforms.
In addition, the costs of running the AFL competition have also grown, while the launch of initiatives like the talent academies in Sydney and Brisbane and the AFL apprenticeship scheme also place financial demands on the AFL.
As such, we are very pleased with the financial result. This income will greatly assist the game to grow nationally and at all levels.
One of the other benefits of the new arrangements is that the increased advertising allowance clearly improves our ability to market the game. The AFL’s ability to stage and promote initiatives like community camps, themed rounds, the NAB Cup and the annual Finals series is enhanced by the offer we have accepted today.
This has been a tough process.
As Ron mentioned, we have been working on today’s announcement for over two years, and we have been negotiating with highly professional, commercially astute broadcasters.
We don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for us, because that is the job that we have taken on, but we also believe that we have been entrusted look after the interests of our great game.
We take that responsibility seriously, and that has been our driving motivation throughout this negotiation.
We believe that this is a great result for football, and we hope that view will be shared by all supporters of Australia’s indigenous game.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=241723
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Obviously, like everyone else at the AFL, I am thrilled with today’s announcement, but I would just reinforce Ron’s comments that the Seven and Ten Networks still have the right to respond to the offer that we have accepted today.
I am sure you are ::) your preferred Broadcaster since day dot :banghead
As Ron mentioned, getting the best combination of audience coverage and financial outcome was our main objective. While the final details of the coverage will only be known when we have received our response from the 7 and 10 Networks, we know that nationally, coverage will be better than we have currently, especially in our key growth markets.
How you can make that statement when you wont tell anyone what the offer is - proves that this will more than likley be a 4/4 split.
Obviously the financial offer is also important. It may surprise some of you to know that since the last broadcasting rights were negotiated, the number of participants nationally has grown by another 100,000, with 60,000 more children in Auskick alone.
The most important
This has been a tough process.
We don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for us, because that is the job that we have taken on, but we also believe that we have been entrusted look after the interests of our great game.
I feel many things but sorry for you is not one of them - disgust is the nicest thing I can say at the moment :banghead :banghead
We take that responsibility seriously, and that has been our driving motivation throughout this negotiation.
We believe that this is a great result for football, and we hope that view will be shared by all supporters of Australia’s indigenous game.
Well I am sorry to disappoint you but guess what? From what I've read on bigfooty and heard on talkback radio this afternoon and this evening people are not head over heels with this announcement.
I suppose at least this time you had the sense to not make another - "no-one will be worse off under this agreement" speech because we all know that would be classed as crap :banghead
Can someone explain this to me - last time when they made the announcement (2000) the AFL hod no hesitation in telling the world what the 9/10/foxtel bid was made up of despite ch 7 having the last right to bid then - why wont they tell us this time? The crap they are spinning about they can't because of the first and last right to bid clause is just that crap. :banghead
As I said I smell a rat and it will be the "average punter" who will suffer especially those who cannot afford paytv
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$780m AFL deal the richest in Aussie sport
Damian Barrett
Herald-Sun
24dec05
THE AFL yesterday secured the richest deal in Australian sports history when it accepted a $780 million five-year offer from Channel 9 to broadcast matches beyond 2006.
Acceptance of the Nine offer has left a consortium containing Channels 7 and 10 until January 5 to match it or be left without football in 2007-11.
Nine, in partnership with Foxtel and News Limited, publisher of the Herald Sun, got AFL commission approval yesterday.
If its bid remains the preferred AFL option, it will broadcast four matches each week, leaving up to four games a week for Foxtel.
It is believed between $80 million and $100 million of the $780 million deal is contra.
AFL chairman Ron Evans said the proposed contract with Nine's parent company, PBL, was 50 per cent higher than the current value.
Nine, Ten and Foxtel have contributed $500 million (about $100m contra) for the 2002-06 broadcast rights.
"There is a mixture of cash and kind," Mr Evans said. "Be assured the cash is a significant proportion of the $780 million."
Nine convinced the AFL to accept its offer when it matched the dollars with a promotional package into blackspots in the northern states.
Chief executive Andrew Demetriou said details of the package would not be revealed until after the outcome of the Seven-Ten last-rights option.
"What I can say is in accepting this offer we have endeavoured to obviously optimise our financial return, but we have been absolutely conscious of the priority given to the reach and coverage in our developing markets, and of protection in SA and WA of the free-to-air component," he said.
"There will be enhanced coverage, without doubt, in the northern markets in NSW and Queensland, both in the capital cities and in regional areas, but we cannot go into specifics."
It is believed Foxtel will be used regularly to broadcast matches live or near live into the northern states, with Nine to also broadcast the matches once its commitments to rugby league have been completed.
There is a possibility of Nine selling Saturday matches to Ten and striking a deal with SBS.
SBS sports head Les Murray said last night Nine had approached his network, but that it was highly unlikely a deal would be struck.
Seven and Ten last night said they had always expected the broadcast rights talks to reach the last-rights stage.
Seven director of corporate development Simon Francis said his network would spend today analysing the Nine bid.
"We submitted a very strong financial offer and we also outlined a far-reaching strategy for increasing the coverage of AFL in the northern markets," he said.
Manoeuvring for the AFL's rights became heated in March when Ten formed an alliance with Seven.
The AFL was angered by the deal as it felt it was struck with a view to keeping the price down.
The Herald Sun revealed in July that Nine had teamed with Foxtel, and last week revealed the Nine bid was $15 million a year higher than its rival.
Mr Demetriou said Seven and Ten had 14 calendar days, which takes in Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year public holidays, to submit a new bid, and were required to match all components offered by Nine.
"The process is not complete. Seven and Ten have purchased first and last rights, we respect that, and there is an obligation to deliver them the offer and they will have to match the offer as we present it to them," he said.
"They have paid for the ability to match and now it is up to them to take away this offer and discuss the pros and cons."
Seven paid the AFL $20 million in 1997 for the contractual rights to bid first and last in the broadcast rights negotiations.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17654347%255E661,00.html
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How you can make that statement when you wont tell anyone what the offer is - proves that this will more than likley be a 4/4 split.
It stands out like anything that it'll be most likely a 4/4 split. It's what they've been saying the Nine/Foxtel offer was all along. Foxtel will want a better deal than they have now as I believe they are putting in significantly more $$$ this time around. SBS don't appear to be interested and PBL don't have to ask SBS even if they choose that option until after the rights are decided. Nine may also tell Ch 10 to shove off for siding with Seven so Nine get all the finals, GF, brownlow, etc to themselves. I also agree with those on BF that night GFs will be the norm by 2011. This is all about generating the maximum $$$.
The TV schedule could be something similar to what's posted on bomberblitz:
VICTORIA
Friday night - Nine (1 hr delay @ 8:30pm)
Saturday afternoon - Fox Footy (Live @ 2pm)
Saturday night - Fox Footy (Live @ 7pm)
Saturday night - Nine (1/2 hr delay @ 7.30pm)
Sunday afternoon - Nine (Live @ 1pm)
Sunday afternoon - Fox Footy (Live @ 2pm)
Sunday afternoon (Melbourne based match) - Nine (2 hr delay @ 4pm)
Sunday evening - Fox Footy (Live @ 5pm)
NSW/QLD
Friday night - Fox Footy (Live @ 7:30pm); Nine (Delayed until after NRL double headers @ 1am)
Saturday afternoon - Fox Footy (Live @ 2pm)
Saturday night - Fox Footy (Live @ 7pm)
Saturday night - Nine (Delayed until after NRL)
Sunday afternoon - Nine (Live @ 1pm); NRL to be shown at 4pm.
Sunday afternoon - Fox Footy (Live @ 2pm)
Sunday afternoon (Melbourne based match) - Nine (Delayed Late Night)
Sunday evening - Fox Footy (Live @ 5pm)
Can someone explain this to me - last time when they made the announcement (2000) the AFL hod no hesitation in telling the world what the 9/10/foxtel bid was made up of despite ch 7 having the last right to bid then - why wont they tell us this time? The crap they are spinning about they can't because of the first and last right to bid clause is just that crap. :banghead
They'll claim contract confidentiality of the tenders but it's obvious Andy D wants Nine/Foxtel to win the rights. I mean the AFL accepted their offer in the afternoon on the last business day prior to the Christmas/New Year's break knowing that the 14 calendar days Seven/Ten have really is only about seven business days at best and with many its staff on holidays.
It appears that's it. 5 more years of Collingwood getting the best prime time spots with Eddie possibly becoming head of Ch.9 in Melbourne as well as president of the Pies :help :scream.
As I said I smell a rat and it will be the "average punter" who will suffer especially those who cannot afford paytv
Looks like we're heading the way of the US where professional sport is mainly shown on cable/pay tv :(.
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Andy D is all about the money, screw whats best for the supporters! :banghead
Saying that though ive got pay tv (well at home i do, im moving out end of next month for a year or so) so either way i won't be affected personally, especially since we have hardly any sunday games in 2006 which might possibly air in the "death zone" aka Sunday avo at 4pm where you only see 1/2 the match, which is cut up my about 1,000 stuffing ads!
What will happen to all of Channel 10's commentators?
No way Tim Lane goes back to 9, and Fox Footy need a proven commentator.
I cringe at the thought of Walls and Ayres commentating at the sametime though! :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead
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Payback time for Demetriou
ANALYSIS, By Caroline Wilson
December 24, 2005
On the face of it Kerry Packer, with not a little help from Rupert Murdoch, has delivered Andrew Demetriou the ultimate Christmas present - a $780 million five-year broadcasting deal, which has turned the AFL chief into a hero in the eyes of his 16 clubs and destroyed the festive season for the Seven and Ten networks.
T
he mood among club presidents during their telephone hook-up at 1.30pm yesterday was largely ecstatic when Demetriou and his chairman, Ron Evans, delivered the news that Channel Nine had delivered in a big way. Although Sydney and Brisbane were waiting for the fine print, and several other club leaders wanted to make sure their players would not be taking all of the proceeds, this was a moment for celebration.
The annual cash component from Nine, which seems certain to split its next five-year deal with Foxtel - meaning that half the home-and-away games from 2007 will have to be paid for if you want to see them - has been estimated at between $130-$135 million per season.
The $780 million figure trumpeted by the AFL, which includes an estimated $80 million in unspecified marketing and advertising revenue, means that Channels Seven and Ten, which have jointly offered an estimated $10 million less per season in cash terms, will have to find up to another $50 million to match the Nine offer.
Either way the clubs will benefit financially and Evans made it clear yesterday that when it came down to coverage versus cash, cash was king. The league has not only removed its potentially costly legal costs from Channel Seven's litigation against it from its books, but it will come close to receiving almost 50 per cent more in the next broadcast rights deal.
The AFL was not clear on everything, however. While the infamous regional black hole, which removed Friday night football from free-to-air TV in key areas in NSW and Queensland in the last agreement, was always meant to be rectified this time, that now appears less certain. Foxtel will televise Friday night games live into both those states and their capital cities, but Nine's regional affiliate, WIN, remains committed to rugby league, so the offers of Prime TV and Southern Cross Television in the Seven-Ten consortium of prime time Friday night coverage cannot be matched by Nine.
It is believed that Nine's four games will cover Friday nights, Saturday afternoons, Saturday night and Sunday afternoons. Rather than boasting prime time free-to-air coverage into Sydney and Brisbane on Saturday nights, Nine will delay those fixtures until 9.30pm.
Clearly there is a serious degree of contempt for Seven and Ten from Demetriou and his commission, which is not surprising.
Demetriou still feels Ten tried to con the AFL and screw down the price of the broadcast rights when it switched camps and climbed into bed with Channel Seven, which was suing the AFL.
Demetriou holds grudges and yesterday for him was payback time. Not only were Seven and Ten executives kept in the dark regarding any imminent offer, they learnt of yesterday's announcement via a newsroom press release. The Publishing and Broadcasting Limited winning bid was delivered to the camps that own the right to match the bid about 4pm on the last office day before Christmas.
Seven and Ten were meeting today to devise their next move. Clearly the question on everyone's lips was whether they would fight. The mood from the clubs was that it is all over.
For the sake of the game you would hope that the ill-feeling between the AFL and those two free-to-air outlets improves should they match Nine's offer, which, while impressive, does not boast the insurmountable gap between its rivals that the Nine/Ten bid did last time.
http://theage.com.au/realfooty/news/afl/payback-time-for-demetriou/2005/12/23/1135032185228.html
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The mood among club presidents during their telephone hook-up at 1.30pm yesterday was largely ecstatic when Demetriou and his chairman, Ron Evans, delivered the news that Channel Nine had delivered in a big way. Although Sydney and Brisbane were waiting for the fine print, and several other club leaders wanted to make sure their players would not be taking all of the proceeds, this was a moment for celebration.
let's see how ecstatic they are when they are not on FTA TV and as a result lose sponsors because they are not getting enough national exposure.
These people need to get the $$$$ signs out of there eyes and look at the big picture :banghead
Demetriou holds grudges and yesterday for him was payback time. Not only were Seven and Ten executives kept in the dark regarding any imminent offer, they learnt of yesterday's announcement via a newsroom press release. The Publishing and Broadcasting Limited winning bid was delivered to the camps that own the right to match the bid about 4pm on the last office day before Christmas.
What was it I was saying about ethics and a bad taste and smell ??? :banghead
Call it whatever you like - that is disgraceful business practice
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WHAT THE AFL GETS NOW
■ Five-year deal from Nine, Ten and Foxtel worth $400 million in cash.
■ Five matches split between Nine and Ten, three on Foxtel.
■ Live Saturday night games into Brisbane. Delayed Friday night coverage into Sydney and Brisbane.
■ Limited finals into NSW, Qld.
WHAT THE AFL REJECTED
■ Five-year deal from Seven and Ten estimated at $740 million.
■ Five games a week on free-to-air and three on Foxtel.
■ Guaranteed nationwide live coverage of Saturday night games.
■ Live Friday football into all regional centres of NSW, Qld and NT.
WHAT THE AFL HAS AGREED TO
■ Five-year deal from Nine valued at $780 million.
■ Four games a week on free-to-air with option for four on Foxtel.
■ Improvements in Qld, NSW.
■ Free-to-air coverage on Friday and Saturday, possible free-to-air double-header on Sunday.
http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news/afl/footy-war-nine-lodges-780m-bid/2005/12/23/1135032185733.html
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What more needs to be said? Shame AFL shame
Footy fans have been sold out again - to all my friends and family in Wagga Wagga - it's the same old same old.
Please oh please channels 7/10 match the $$$ - the coverage side of things is already better than the other offer
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Please oh please channels 7/10 match the $$$ - the coverage side of things is already better than the other offer
Even if they do or then again better it, I doubt they would get it anyway. Just a gut feeling.
Quote
Demetriou holds grudges and yesterday for him was payback time.
That is NOT how you run a business - Time for a change at AFL house.
:santa
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Can the AFL still reject the bid if they match the offer financially?
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Can the AFL still reject the bid if they match the offer financially?
There's cash + contra (tv timeslots for promotional stuff) involved in these bids so Seven/Ten have to match the "value" of PBL's offer of reportedly $700m is cash and $80m in contra. It seems Seven/Ten are about $75m short and unlikely to match it. Seven's shares apparently when "up" on the news of yesterday's announcement. If they did match PBL's offer though and Andy D still rejected it, this could get very messy next year as the parties could end up in court again.
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The mood among club presidents during their telephone hook-up at 1.30pm yesterday was largely ecstatic
let's see how ecstatic they are when they are not on FTA TV and as a result lose sponsors because they are not getting enough national exposure.
These people need to get the $$$$ signs out of there eyes and look at the big picture :banghead
I wonder if ours was thinking that there'll now be a extra million or two in the AFL dividend to the clubs so the club can pay off the overdraft in 4-5 years timeframe set out.
I know we haven't down ourselves any favours on-field in regards to getting good FTA coverage but sheesh we were punished severely and moreso than other clubs with similar performances. One lousey friday night away game this year despite a new respected coach coming in because the draw was based on the last two years under Frawley yet Collingwood can play equally boring footy in the past two years with poor ratings and still end up with 4 Friday nighters in 2006 on par with us >:(.
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Can the AFL still reject the bid if they match the offer financially?
No they can't - under the last right to bid as long as 7/10 match all parts of the PBL offer the AFL must accept it. They (7/10) can of course better the PBL offer (which coverage wise they already have :banghead) by $1 and the AFL must accept
There's cash + contra (tv timeslots for promotional stuff) involved in these bids so Seven/Ten have to match the "value" of PBL's offer of reportedly $700m is cash and $80m in contra. It seems Seven/Ten are about $75m short and unlikely to match it. Seven's shares apparently when "up" on the news of yesterday's announcement. If they did match PBL's offer though and Andy D still rejected it, this could get very messy next year as the parties could end up in court again.
Going by what Caro wrote in Saturday's Age (and it was one of her better editorials I must say ;D) the $$$ portions of the offers are not that far apart it seems the contra (free tv advertising) is the part 7/10 have not matched. The business section in the HUN on Saturday backed this claim. They went as far as to say the contra in the PBL offer could be as much as $100 million - struth that's alot of late night advertising.
As I said as long as 7/10 match the PBL offer the AFL are legally required to accept.
Now wouldn't that be a wonderful sight Andy D, Big Kerry and Eddie Mc sobbing in a corner somewhere after 7/10 throw the final punch :rollin
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On BF (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=217038) and Bomberblitz (http://www.bomberblitz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22116&st=240#) it's claimed the difference b/w the two bids in $187 million because the Seven/Ten offer is over six years not five:
So what is on the table now
9 & Fox
$700 million cash + $80 million contra
7 & 10
$616 million cash + $124 million contra (OVER 6 YEARS)
broken down to over 5 years however
$513 million cash + $103 million contra
7 & 10 need to boost their cash bid component by 36% to match the 700/80
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I've read the comments on BF by Tigger and how much he/she reckons 7/10 has bid and to be honest unless they work at AFL house, ch 9, ch 7, ch 10 or foxtel I don't think they have any idea. The media Caro and Damien Barrett from the HUN would have a better idea.
Demetriou told Seven and Ten executives in a curt meeting yesterday that their offer was unacceptable. It featured a revised five-year deal with a cash value of close to $600 million and unprecedented free-to-air coverage into Sydney and Brisbane.
The above is what Caro wrote on either 20 or 21/12/05. Barrett from the HUN agreed with the figures she printed. Caro is obviously being fed by 7 and Barrett was getting his info from someone at 9.
WHAT THE AFL GETS NOW
■ Five-year deal from Nine, Ten and Foxtel worth $400 million in cash.
■ Five matches split between Nine and Ten, three on Foxtel.
■ Live Saturday night games into Brisbane. Delayed Friday night coverage into Sydney and Brisbane.
■ Limited finals into NSW, Qld.
WHAT THE AFL REJECTED
■ Five-year deal from Seven and Ten estimated at $740 million.
■ Five games a week on free-to-air and three on Foxtel.
■ Guaranteed nationwide live coverage of Saturday night games.
■ Live Friday football into all regional centres of NSW, Qld and NT.
WHAT THE AFL HAS AGREED TO
■ Five-year deal from Nine valued at $780 million.
■ Four games a week on free-to-air with option for four on Foxtel.
■ Improvements in Qld, NSW.
■ Free-to-air coverage on Friday and Saturday, possible free-to-air double-header on Sunday.
http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news/afl/footy-war-nine-lodges-780m-bid/2005/12/23/1135032185733.html
One of thh arguements Tigger has used on BF is that it's all the 7/10 figures have come from Caro and she is biased. I think you could use the same logic with the Barrett articles
The details that was in the Age (above) was also in the Hun so - I reckon that figures that are being sprouted about by Caro and Barrett are pretty close to the mark - we will know by the 6th Jan.
Actually I was starting to think that Tigger on BF was actually Eddie McEverywhere
;D :help
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Push to trump Packer bid for AFL TV rights
By Caroline Wilson, Christian Catalano and Malcolm Maiden
December 29, 2005
http://www.theage.com.au/news/natio...5732642184.html
KERRY Packer's final act on the Australian corporate stage — his spectacular $780 million bid to keep AFL football on Channel Nine — is in danger of failing as rivals Seven and Ten consider making a last-ditch counter-offer to snare the deal.
Less than a week after the bid by Mr Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited was revealed, the rival consortium is believed to be preparing a final assault for the prized AFL broadcast rights from 2007 until 2011.
Seven and Ten executives are believed to have broken into their Christmas holidays in recent days to analyse the PBL document and decide whether to exercise their legal right to match it.
AFL chiefs announced on Friday their acceptance of the PBL bid — with every second AFL game to be presented on pay TV network Foxtel — in the absence of a better offer from Seven and Ten within 14 days.
While AFL clubs largely applauded the PBL deal and its financial rewards, the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions are concerned about the rights going to a free-to-air network committed in NSW and Queensland to rugby league.
Initially stunned by the size of the Packer bid, which includes a cash component of $700 million, the rival alliance now appears determined to fight on — despite the threat of slim profit margins and bad feelings that exist between the league and both Seven and Ten.
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Here's an opinion from a business point of view from a journalist/analyst:
Still the one, but not for long
By Alan Kohler
December 29, 2005
Page 1 of 2
Related coverage
Kerry Packer's last act as the titular head of his empire was to sign off on a desperate, futile attempt to avert the Nine Network's greatest crisis - the bid for the AFL broadcasting rights.
It will be futile, in my view, because Seven and Ten will comfortably trump the Packer group's $780 million bid and as a result Nine will slip decisively to No. 2 in the ratings within 12 months.
Kerry Stokes thought Seven could do without the footy and he was wrong, but with the help of Nine's David Leckie, Seven has stayed close enough to Nine to knock it off when it gets the AFL back - that prospect will be irresistible for Stokes and the profits from being No. 1 will easily compensate for any losses on the AFL contract itself.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/12/28/1135732638807.html?from=top5
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Alan Kohler is a very astute business analyst - I've always enjoyed reading his views. Particularly like this one :rollin
I've been of the belief that the TV rights are there for Chs 7/10 taking if they really want them - I am hoping they match the bid or be really generous and offer $1 extra to better it. ;D
From a TV viewer perspective the 7/10 bid is so far superior to the PBL offer that it's not funny - simply because they can offer better FTA coverage in the markets the AFL have said previously are so important but only when the AFL deems them to be important. :banghead
I reckon this will go down to the wire and I wouldn't be surprised to see Telstra Dome somehow coming into the equation.
What was is again that Eddie said about throwing the last punch :help :lol :shh :rollin
Time will tell but please oh please Channels 7/10 don't let us down :thumbsup
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AFL wants quick decision
By James Chessell and Lisa Murray
December 30, 2005
Sydney Morning Herald
THE AFL has rejected a request by the Seven and Ten Networks for extra time to work through a last-ditch counter-offer for the AFL broadcast rights from 2007 until 2011.
It is understood the consortium asked the AFL for more time yesterday but was told it must either match Kerry Packer's spectacular $780 million pre-Christmas bid to keep AFL football on Channel Nine by the original January 6 deadline or bow out of the race.
Sources close to Seven and Ten played down the significance of the decision, saying the consortium was merely seeking a "clarification" of its position. But with Seven boss David Leckie on holiday overseas until Tuesday, the consortium wanted more time. It must now reach a decision in the second half of next week.
AFL chiefs announced last Friday that they would accept the bid by Nine parent PBL, regarded as Mr Packer's final corporate manoeuvre, in the absence of a superior offer from Seven and Ten within 14 days. PBL's offer is the largest in Australian sporting history and underlines the importance of the AFL rights, with Nine and Seven locked in a fierce ratings battle.
While television insiders say Seven could manage without the AFL rights, it is generally considered that Ten needs to bolster its content.
Sources close to Seven said the network was seeking "clarification" about "the difference between the first offer we put to the AFL and a [Nine] offer that does not contain one single guarantee of live coverage in the northern markets"; and the sub-licensing agreements.
Under the offer nutted out by Mr Packer and Nine chief Sam Chisholm, up to four games a week would be broadcast on pay network Foxtel, which is 25 per cent owned by PBL. Yesterday's setback has raised doubts about Seven's commitment to matching the lucrative Nine bid - there is no doubt about Ten chief Grant Blackley's enthusiasm - with the odds slightly strengthening that Nine may retain AFL rights.
Nevertheless, the consortium said it would continue to crunch the numbers on a rival bid, despite the threat of slim profit margins and apparent ill-feelings between the league and both Seven and Ten.
According to Nine insiders, the strength of its bid is not so much in the price - about $280 million higher than the AFL's current deal - but in the scheduling requirements.
Nine is in partnership with Foxtel which allows it to commit to a gruelling schedule. It is expected that Seven and Ten, both being free-to-air TV stations, will find that difficult to match as they will be forced to commit to too many games at difficult times.
"If we win, it costs us a bit of money but it is very good for Foxtel and it cements Channel Nine's No.1 ratings position," the insider said. "If we lose, the schedule will be murder for Seven and Ten."
A Seven spokesman said yesterday there was "no rush to respond" to Nine's bid. "We'll make a decision that's in the best interests of our shareholders, our advertising partners and our viewers," he said. We look forward to the next time we speak to the AFL.
"Seven is No.1 in news and public affairs, is surging in prime time and is well-placed to continue this momentum. We're delivering without the AFL and there's no doubt we'd be even more competitive with television rights to every match played in the AFL. We'll let our heads, not our hearts, make the decision."
While the Nine deal works out to $156 million a year, it has been reported that up to $100 million of the offer is in contra for advertising and promotion. This would make the cash component $680 million, or $136 million a year.
In a note to clients earlier this week Citigroup analysts said the AFL rights were "beginning to take on poison chalice status".
"It is beginning to look ugly indeed for the 'winner' of these rights."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/business...5732692946.html
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Cash is the key
to TV rights
30 December 2005 Herald Sun
Damian Barrett
PROMISES to promote football in the black spots of the northern states will not be part of the Channels 7-10 counter bid for AFL broadcasting rights.
In a strategy that dramatically reshapes the AFL TV landscape, Seven and Ten have taken the view they need only match finances, not coverage, of the Channel 9 bid conditionally accepted by the AFL.
In its offer approved by the AFL Commission last Friday, Nine, in partnership with Foxtel and News Limited, publisher of the Herald Sun, pledged $780 million for the 2007-11 football rights.
Nine was allowed to sub-license four matches a week to pay-TV.
Seven and Ten have decided the rights were made purely a matter of money because of the AFL's decision to go with Nine.
They had been convinced their deal was superior in terms of free-to-air coverage in the black spots.
Accountants at Seven and Ten have begun financially analysing the marketplace hoping to project their status, five years ahead, based on both having and not having the football rights.
Removing the pledges to broadcast live or near live in the northern states will mean that ratings losses -- and therefore advertising dollar losses -- are not sustained in New South Wales and Queensland.
Seven initially gave consideration to including selling the management rights to Telstra Dome, valued at $150-$200 million, as part of the TV rights negotiations, but the possibility has been scrubbed.
Seven director of corporate development Simon Francis would not comment on the coverage issue last night, but said his network and Ten would remove emotion from any counter bid.
Under contractual rights to bid last, Seven and Ten have until late next week to match Nine's offer.
"Seven is No. 1 in news and public affairs, is surging in prime time and is well placed to continue this momentum," Francis said.
"We are delivering without the AFL and there is no doubt we would be even more competitive with the television rights to the AFL. We will let our heads and not our hearts make the final decision.
"There is no rush to respond to the AFL and we will make the decision that is in the best interests of our shareholders and our viewers, and we are looking forward to the next time we speak to the AFL."
The AFL has regularly stated coverage in NSW and Queensland was as important as cash in the next rights deal.
While the finer details of the coverage available under the Nine bid will not be known until Seven and Ten decide whether to counter, it is known Foxtel's signal is to be used in the northern markets.
In its first bid rejected by the AFL, Ten had planned to provide live national coverage in NSW and Queensland on Saturday nights, and Seven said it would broadcast in those states from 10.30pm on Fridays.
Nine's conditionally successful $780 million bid includes about $80 million of contra.
It was at least $75 million more than Seven and Ten had offered at the first bid stage.
The AFL said last week Seven and Ten had until next Thursday to respond to the Nine offer, but the networks are working to deadline of next Friday.
Should a counter bid be made, Seven would take three Grand Finals within the 2007-11 period, leaving two for Ten.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,17688404%255E20322,00.html
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Cash is the key
to TV rights
30 December 2005 Herald Sun
Damian Barrett
What an enlightening title :o - like tell me something we didn't know :lol
PROMISES to promote football in the black spots of the northern states will not be part of the Channels 7-10 counter bid for AFL broadcasting rights.
In a strategy that dramatically reshapes the AFL TV landscape, Seven and Ten have taken the view they need only match finances, not coverage, of the Channel 9 bid conditionally accepted by the AFL.
In its offer approved by the AFL Commission last Friday, Nine, in partnership with Foxtel and News Limited, publisher of the Herald Sun, pledged $780 million for the 2007-11 football rights.
Nine was allowed to sub-license four matches a week to pay-TV.
Seven and Ten have decided the rights were made purely a matter of money because of the AFL's decision to go with Nine.
They had been convinced their deal was superior in terms of free-to-air coverage in the black spots.
Anyone with half no make that a 1/4 of a brain knows the original 7/10 was better in terms of coverage
From a business prespective I can understand 7's thinking - why offer more than you absolutely have to to get the rights. Silly Andy D has made it clear the AFL are not that interested in the caoverage side of things so why should anyone else bother with it :help
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Ten the key on AFL TV bid
By Caroline Wilson
The Age
January 4, 2006
A CRUCIAL meeting of Channel Ten's board today will decide whether to join with the Seven network in offering an extra $100 million to secure the prized AFL television broadcast rights.
Speculation was strengthening last night that the Seven-Ten alliance would go ahead and match Channel Nine's $780 million offer to televise AFL matches from 2007 to 2011.
The networks have until Friday to meet the AFL's 14-day deadline for the final bid.
Having made an unsuccessful initial offer worth $600 million cash, Seven and Ten executives have unofficially agreed to put up the extra $20 million a year needed to match the lucrative offer from Nine's owner, the Packer-controlled Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.
The PBL deal included almost $700 million in cash over five years and $80 million worth of marketing and advertising.
Seven chief executive David Leckie has returned from a holiday in Hawaii to put the finishing touches to Seven's side of the complicated costings.
While the Seven board has virtually approved the extra money, Ten must gain the final approval of its Canada-based parent, CanWest.
Seven has also agreed to match other key elements of the deal struck between the AFL and PBL - including to televise games live into Sydney every Friday night on Foxtel, the pay TV channel part-owned by PBL and the Murdoch empire.
If, as expected, the counter-bidders agree to match that aspect of the deal, Seven will need to do another deal to on-sell the Friday games to Foxtel - or risk having to televise them live into the tough Sydney market on its free-to-air station.
While Seven and Ten are yet to hold talks with the pay TV outlet, it appears likely that Foxtel would join forces with them and televise three AFL games each weekend.
Under Nine's proposed agreement with the AFL, four of the eight home-and-away games played each round would appear on Foxtel.
It also emerged yesterday that under the Nine proposal, rugby league play-offs would be given preference over AFL finals coverage into Sydney and Brisbane and other key developing markets in instances where a scheduling clash occurred.
Under revisions to the original offer by Seven and Ten, it is believed that Ten would no longer need to televise 22 live Saturday night games into Sydney, as proposed earlier, because such an agreement was not part of the Nine-Foxtel offer.
However, Ten is understood to be determined not to abandon fully its Saturday night commitments into Sydney.
The Nine-Foxtel deal was announced by the AFL on December 23 despite an earlier assurance by AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou that no agreement would be completed before Christmas. The deal was struck following PBL boss Kerry Packer's return from South America on December 21. Mr Packer died just days later, leaving control of his empire in the hands of his son James.
Seven and Ten are in a position to trump the Packer offer as a result of Seven's $20 million payment to the AFL in 1997 for first and last bidding rights on two five-year AFL broadcasting periods.
Under the deal between Seven and Ten to bid jointly for the AFL rights, it was agreed that Seven would televise Friday night games during the season and two games each Sunday, while Ten would televise two Saturday games.
Finals coverage would be split, with a coin toss to decide which network hosted the 2007 grand final, the first under the next rights agreement. The loser would win the rights to show that year's Brownlow Medal count.
Sources close to the Seven-Ten consortium have confirmed to The Age that they would only need to improve the cash component of their original offer by between $15 million and $20 million to match the Nine offer. "It comes down to a pure financial decision," a source said. "We've had to completely do the financial engineering again based on that offer and those dollars and what it means . . . it goes down to audience flows, potential ratings, potential revenues for each network."
- with Christian Catalano
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/01/03/1136050445890.html
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Seven, Ten still in rights picture
Damian Barrett
Herald-Sun
04jan06
CHANNEL 7 chief executive David Leckie returned from overseas on Monday night to chair a meeting yesterday to thrash out a counter bid for the AFL's broadcast rights.
Leckie met in Sydney with Channel 10 general manager of sport David White as the networks ramped up talks aimed at matching the conditionally accepted $780 million bid of the Nine network to broadcast AFL from 2007-11.
Neither network would comment last night.
After conjecture over the deadline for the response to the Nine bid, it was decided yesterday that 4pm Friday would be the cut-off time.
The AFL had initially been working on midnight Thursday, but the Seven-Ten alliance had always been preparing for the later slot after it received the Nine contract at 4.10pm on December 23.
The alliance has formed the view it needs only match the finances of the Nine offer, ditching promises of promotion into black-spots of the northern states. It is believed the new outlook has been prompted by loose definitions, including "best endeavours", in the Nine contract regarding coverage.
But such a stance might prompt a legal showdown with the AFL, as broadcasting executives have maintained throughout the year that "all aspects" of any conditionally accepted bid must be matched at the last rights stage.
Nine's bid was made in conjunction with Foxtel and News Limited, publisher of the Herald Sun, and provides for the allowance to sub-licence four matches on pay-TV.
Foxtel would also be used in some capacity in a Seven-Ten win, but it will not be speaking with the networks this week about possible arrangements because of its commitment to the Nine bid.
Seven and Ten were more than $75 million short of the Nine bid when they were rejected by the AFL at the first-bid stage of the complicated negotiations.
Seven insiders have told people in the industry the alliance is financially capable of matching Nine's offer, but is weighing up the implications of such a heavy commitment.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17724479%255E11088,00.html
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Seven has also agreed to match other key elements of the deal struck between the AFL and PBL - including to televise games live into Sydney every Friday night on Foxtel, the pay TV channel part-owned by PBL and the Murdoch empire.
You would hope these Friday night games if shown live into NSW and Qld on Foxtel are at least shown delayed on FTA at 9.30pm/10.30pm or whatever time Seven had in their first offer so the game is promoted to the non-converted and kids in these states.
Andy D won't care as he's only interested in the money on offer ::).
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Seven and Ten to trump AFL TV bid
By Christian Catalano
The Age
January 5, 2006
THE $780 million battle for the AFL's television broadcast rights is likely to come to a head today with the Seven and Ten networks ready to announce they will match the accepted bid from the Packer family's Channel Nine.
Sources close to the negotiations confirmed last night that Ten's board and its major shareholder, the Canada-based CanWest, have approved paying an extra $20 million a year in cash on top of the consortium's initial bid. Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes and chief executive David Leckie ratified the deal on Tuesday.
The offer includes an estimated $680 million in cash and $100 million in "contra" — free marketing and promotion through their TV and publishing interests — over five years from 2007 to 2011.
Nine was not ready to accept defeat last night. Senior executive Lynton Taylor — who worked on the bid with Kerry Packer in the weeks before his death — said the final decision rested with the AFL Commission.
"The AFL have the final say and we will wait and see what the AFL tells us," he said.
Seven and Ten are satisfied that under the terms of the first and last bidding rights — for which Seven paid $20 million in 1997 and then shared with Ten last year — the AFL will have no choice but to agree to an offer that matches the one it accepted from Nine before Christmas.
But the relationship between the Seven-Ten consortium and the AFL has been brittle. There is speculation that the league will ask for more time to examine the contra component before accepting it. The AFL would not comment last night.
Seven and Ten have argued that they only need to match the dollar value of Nine's contra offer, which included advertising and promotional opportunities across its TV and magazine assets and its dominant internet portal, ninemsn.
Seven also owns Australia's second-largest magazine group behind PBL and has a partnership with the local arm of internet giant Yahoo!, which allow it to offer similar contra deals.
Another lingering worry for Seven and Ten is the involvement of pay TV company Foxtel, which is 25 per cent owned by the Packers' Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.
Though Seven and Ten have told the AFL they intend to broadcast three games a week on pay TV, the consortium has not begun formal discussions with Foxtel.
While Nine was expected to reap $50-$60 million a year from sub-licensing up to four games a week to Foxtel, the Seven-Ten group is likely to be paid less because it is offering one fewer game a week.
Media analysts said Foxtel would have little choice but to deal with Seven-Ten because football has helped it attract more subscribers in the southern states. Without Foxtel, Seven and Ten will most likely look to cover as many of the eight weekly games as possible.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/01/04/1136050499206.html
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Stokes in the game but needs coverage
John Lehmann
The Australian
January 05, 2006
KERRY Stokes will be under pressure to offer live Friday night games in non-Australian Rules cities from 2007 when his Seven Network and bidding partner Network Ten attempt to match the $780 million offer for AFL television rights signed off by Kerry Packer for Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd days before his death.
Seven and Ten executives would today inform the Australian Football League Commission they were prepared to pay an extra $80 million in cash to match the offer put foward by PBL and pay-TV operator Foxtel, sources said late yesterday.
But it could take days for AFL lawyers to analyse the details of the upgraded offer to ensure it technically matches the deal offered by the PBL's Nine Network and Foxtel for the 2007-2011 rights.
A highly placed source confirmed yesterday Seven and Ten must match its rivals on the television coverage given to AFL matches, as well as the $780 million price, which includes $680 million in cash and $100 million in goods in kind.
Under the Nine-Foxtel deal, the AFL was promised live coverage of Friday night games in Sydney and Brisbane on pay-TV.
Seven and Ten will be legally required to match this condition, even though Friday night AFL games in those non-AFL cities are not sure-fire ratings winners and tend to be shown later in the night.
This makes it critical for Seven and Ten to strike a deal with Foxtel to carry live Friday games if their new bid is accepted.
Seven is suing Foxtel owners News Limited (publisher of The Australian), PBL and Telstra, alleging a conspiracy that denied Seven the last set of AFL rights running from 2002.
AFL chairman Ron Evans and chief executive Andrew Demetriou conditionally accepted the Nine-Foxtel deal just before Christmas.
But the AFL is required to accept a matching Seven-Ten bid under a contractual right acquired by Mr Stokes for $20 million in 1997. Relations between Seven and the AFL have been poisonous over the past year, when Mr Stokes insisted the AFL commission be sued as part of his claim for $1.1billion in damages against the rest of Australia's television industry. Mr Demetriou has made no secret of his desire for the AFL to continue its relationship with Nine. The Nine-Foxtel deal also included guarantees involving the use of PBL's Crown Casino in Melbourne for events such as the Brownlow Medal and football-related coverage in PBL magazines, the source said.
Analysts are sceptical Seven and Ten can make money on the deal - they initially offered about $615 million in cash. "They're paying over the odds now and it's hard to see how you'd hope to make a profit on it," one analyst, who declined to be named, said.
Under the new deal, Ten would lose its present right to stage the finals each year, worth millions of dollars in advertising revenue.
It is understood Seven would show three of the five finals series, beginning in 2007, under its arrangement with Ten.
Sources close to Nine claim it is in a "win-win" situation.
"If we get the rights great, if we don't, we watch Seven and Ten spend more money than they can afford," one insider said.
Gaining the AFL rights will bolster Seven's campaign to finally take over Nine's ratings crown.
Seven, which lost its 46-year association with Australian Rules football in 2001 after falling out with the AFL, finished only 2.1 rating points behind Nine in 2005.
Its executives figure the AFL would be worth between 1 and 1.5 ratings point over a year.
Each ratings point is estimated to be worth between $30million and $35million in extra revenue a year, not to mention the a built-in advertising premium for advertising on the number one rating network.
While the deal would be loss-making, Seven and Ten could expect to write about $60 million in advertising revenue against the AFL each year.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17731673%255E36035,00.html
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I hope the AFL will accept the 7/10 consortium deal because there'd be an extra free to air game showed per week which IMO is better than 9's offer that only shows 4 free to air game. Plus, we wont have to put up with Eddie's bias! ;D ;D ;D
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Seven/Ten bid prevails
5:00:46 PM Thu 5 January, 2006
Jason Phelan
Sportal for afl.com.au
Channels Seven and Ten will broadcast AFL matches from 2007 through 2011 after the AFL formally accepted their revised bid on Thursday afternoon.
The Nine network in partnership with Foxtel had put forward a $780 million package on December 23 last year, but the Seven/Ten alliance exercised its right to match that offer thanks to a 'last rights' clause paid for during the last round of negotiations in 1997.
Details of the breakdown of games between networks, finals allocations and coverage in the northern states is yet to be made public with the AFL set to hold discussions with the successful consortium in the coming weeks.
It's understood however, that the networks have agreed that the AFL grand final coverage in the first year of the deal should be decided by the toss of a coin. The telecast of grand finals will alternate thereafter. The remaining finals matches in any given year will be split between the networks, four apiece.
In making the announcement, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said: "The AFL congratulates the Seven and Ten Networks on acquiring the rights to broadcast AFL games from 2007 to 2011. Network Ten has been a great partner since 2001 and we have no doubt that this already successful partnership will continue to flourish in coming years.
"The AFL and all Australian football fans are aware of the strong historical links between our game and the Seven Network and we look forward to working with them again in the future."
The final offer is at the high end of industry forecasts and will benefit clubs at the grass-roots level as well as the 16 AFL clubs.
"The new broadcasting rights agreement will deliver the best financial and national programming package in the history of the game and provide an important contribution to the ongoing growth of our game," Demetriou said.
The initial $780 million bid from Channel Nine parent company PBL was personally signed-off on by Kerry Packer in the days before his passing and was thought to have landed a knockout blow to Seven and Ten's hopes of claiming the broadcast rights.
Channel Nine took an innovative approach to broadcasting the game when it took over in 2002 after Channel Seven had held the rights for 45 years and Demetriou thanked Nine for its contribution to the game of Australian Rules.
"I would also like to recognise the enormous contribution that PBL has made to Australian football," he said.
"The whole organisation, under the leadership of the late Kerry Packer, has been a great friend to our game and we thank the PBL management team for the commitment and enthusiasm they brought to the relationship with the AFL.
"We will continue to work closely with PBL and we are sure that 2006 will be another outstanding year for football on Channel Nine."
Channel Ten chief executive Grant Blackley described the AFL as a substantial part of the network's schedule.
"We are very happy to continue the successful association from 2007 to 2011," Blackley said.
Channel Seven's managing director in Melbourne, Ian Johnson, a former head of Channel Nine in Melbourne, said: "It's exciting - Seven is back in football and I think that the whole network will embrace that and we're very, very happy with the way it's turned out."
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=241961
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And can I just say that Eddie McEverywhere was 150% correct back in March :thumbsup
It isn't who throws the first punch but who throws the last and who was that again :rollin :rollin
I think this announcement is rather speciallllllllllllllllllllllllll
;D :cheers ;D :bow :rollin
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Question is who does 7 scalp from 9?
Dermy? No way.
Lyon? Ditto.
Russell? :banghead :banghead
I'd love Commeti and wouldn't mind Brayshaw.
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No more channel collingwood after this year :thumbsup.
Funnily enough I was out with the family around Docklands yesterday when on our way we passed all the camera crews outside AFL House just after they had found out Seven-Ten had won the rights. The Ch 7 guy we asked couldn't shut up about it ;D.
Question is who does 7 scalp from 9?
Dermy? No way.
Lyon? Ditto.
Russell? :banghead :banghead
I'd love Commeti and wouldn't mind Brayshaw.
Cometti you would think will return. Ch 7 would be stupid not to have him.
I wouldn't be surprised if Dermie heads back to Seven to join Dunstall. Let's hope the Pie bias isn't replace by the Hawks :P. Sheesh since the late Jack use to be on tellie there's been a Richmond vacuum on tv in terms of ex-Tigers becoming celebrities :(.
I don't mind Brayshaw as a commentator but IMO I think he will stay at Nine as he's also a cricket man.
Lyon, Russell, BT, Doc Larkins and these guys will depend on what happens with the Sunday FS you'd reckon. If Daniher fails this year with the Dees, Lyon could end up coaching in a year's time if he's tv career is no more.
Nine can always blame Spud joining them for this :rollin.
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Lucky for me I have Foxtel but still it will be great going back to the good old days when we could get Friday night football at a decent hour.
I'm just hanging out for an Eddie McGuire-free broadcast. :bow
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Good point re: Brayshaw.
Kevin Sheedy will definetly get into commentating with 7 when he retires as a coach, he has supported 7 for the last 5 years constantly going on talking footy and giving them exclusive sports interviews and such!
I don't mind Larkins at all!
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Kevin Sheedy will definetly get into commentating with 7 when he retires as a coach, he has supported 7 for the last 5 years constantly going on talking footy and giving them exclusive sports interviews and such!
I think this has a bit to do with Ch 7 being a sponsor of the EFC :thumbsup
I don't mind Larkins at all!
Yep they should target Doc Larkins
And Brian Taylor - I like BT ;D
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They were claiming on the news that the average player salary could rise from $180k now to $270k by 2011. Going on that someone like Lids could be earning $700k by then. Not bad money for just a 23 y.o. :o.
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I'm just hanging out for an Eddie McGuire-free broadcast.
There's been a lot worse in the past on 7. As long as they don't bring Graham Cornes, Neil Kerley and Doug Hawkins out of mothballs it should all be sweet. :)
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I'm just hanging out for an Eddie McGuire-free broadcast.
There's been a lot worse in the past on 7. As long as they don't bring Graham Cornes, Neil Kerley and Doug Hawkins out of mothballs it should all be sweet. :)
I know what you mean
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They were claiming on the news that the average player salary could rise from $180k now to $270k by 2011. Going on that someone like Lids could be earning $700k by then. Not bad money for just a 23 y.o. :o.
Oh to be a teenager again @$270k p.a - sadly my the best of my playing days are long gone ;D
$180k would do me :thumbsup
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And he still doesn't have a girlfriend!
Obviously Cogs and Browny haven't taught him everything about being closet gays, their the biggest limp out yet they both do have girlfriends/expensive pieces of meat! :rollin
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TV partners set to make it pay
By Caroline Wilson
February 15, 2006
The stand-off has ended between the AFL's new broadcasting alliance Channels Seven and Ten and its pay TV carrier Foxtel, with the two parties opening negotiations to split football coverage from 2007 until 2011.
In a major shift from the current fixture, Foxtel now looks certain to hold exclusive rights to weekly Sunday twilight games to be introduced by the AFL next season.
While the two parties have not reached any meaningful agreement over money - Foxtel contributed $30 million of the initial cash component of $76 million in 2002, the opening year of the last broadcast deal - the ice was broken between the parties in Sydney last week, with formal negotiations to start next month.
Although Channel Seven remains embroiled in a billion-dollar legal action against Foxtel over the previous media rights deal, subtle indications have been communicated to Kerry Stokes' network that Foxtel will accept the 5-3 break-up of the weekly home-and-away games, while insisting on better-quality games.
Foxtel executives helped the AFL design the winning bid document put forward by Channel Nine and subsequently matched by Seven and Ten, but lost the opportunity to televise an extra weekly AFL game when Seven and Ten emerged victorious.
Although there has been speculation that Foxtel would refuse to do business with Channel Seven, the network has indicated its continuing interest in AFL, an interest which saw its subscriptions rise to close to 25 per cent of TV audiences following its foray into AFL.
The likely outcome of the negotiations will see Foxtel televise Friday night football live into Sydney and Brisbane, with Seven televising Friday nights in Victoria and across the southern states.
While Channel Ten and Foxtel are expected to share the four Saturday games as they have done previously, the pay TV network looks certain to push for exclusive rights to a handful of first-choice Saturday night games, along with its exclusive Sunday twilight game. The latter fixtures will be scheduled by the AFL later this year.
Channel Seven, which has made up a larger part of the $780 million cost of the new five-year broadcast rights, will televise the remaining two Sunday afternoon games.
The loser of the 2007 coin toss for the right to televise the Grand Final will be given the best of the two preliminary finals and also take first pick of games during the first two weeks of the 2007 finals series, along with the exclusive rights to the Brownlow Medal count and the pre-season grand final.
The AFL will open talks with Channel Seven bosses David Leckie and Ian Johnson, along with Channel Ten chief executive Grant Blackley, next week.
While the AFL has reportedly been surprised at being excluded from Seven's talks surrounding a pending sale of Telstra Dome, it is understood the AFL knocked back the chance to bid to buy the stadium late last year.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/02/14/1139890736291.html
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Threat to punt football channel
Mark Day
The Australian
May 25, 2006
PAY-TELEVISION giant Foxtel is considering scrapping its sports flagship Fox Footy Channel after the AFL grand final in September. But AFL games would still be seen on subscription TV, possibly on a new Fox Sports 3 channel.
The future of the FFC is uncertain because of the slow pace of negotiations between the new AFL rights holders - the Seven and Ten networks - and Foxtel. Despite reports to the contrary, no dollars have been discussed and no deals have been done. Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams told Media he wanted to continue with AFL, but "not at any price".
"We love AFL," Mr Williams said. "We want to look after our subscribers who also love it. But we are not willing to do anything which is not commercially and operationally in the best interests of the company."
Foxtel set up FFC in 2002 to provide a non-stop showcase for AFL. It pays about $35 million a year for the rights to show all games each week - three live - and the dedicated channel costs about $50 million a year to run.
AFL rights have been held by News Limited (publisher of The Australian) since the 2002 season. It has sold free-to-air rights to the Nine and Ten networks, and pay-TV rights to Foxtel.
Last year Nine's parent Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd bid $780million for the 2007-11 rights, but a first-and-last bidding clause allowed rival Seven, in partnership with Ten, to match the offer and win the rights.
Seven plans to program live AFL on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons. Ten will have rights to Saturday matches. A new Sunday night game will probably be broadcast live on Foxtel if an agreement can be reached. The finals will alternate between Seven and Ten.
The Seven-Ten consortium has the right to sell as many as four games to pay TV - or another broadcaster - each round. While SBS and pay-TV minnow SelecTV have been nominated as potential partners, only Foxtel and the regional provider Austar present a viable option for Seven.
As one insider put it: "Seven needs Foxtel and Foxtel needs football." AFL is a subscription driver for Foxtel, particularly in the southern states, and it carries a strong loyalty factor.
Seven and Ten have to try to claw back as much as possible from pay TV to lower their AFL costs, a task proving difficult because of the tense relationships between the parties.
Seven boss Kerry Stokes is suing Foxtel, PBL and News, among others, claiming they conspired to put his sports pay-TV arm, C7, out of business through predatory behaviour. The case has run almost 100 days and is not expected to be over for many months more.
Insiders say negotiations between the parties are at their earliest stages. Media understands preliminary agendas and questions have been exchanged, but discussions on prices have not yet started.
Foxtel says it wants negotiations to be over by the end of July, or at least before the start of the finals in September, to allow planning time for next year's FFC programming if it is to continue.
If negotiations on price and terms are not accepted by then, Foxtel would close FFC rather than keep presenters and staff on the books through the summer.
Other sources suggest that might happen anyway. Media was told: "It makes more sense for Foxtel to do away with the FFC and put football games on a new Fox Sports 3 channel. The saving on FFC staff and infrastructure would allow Foxtel to pay more for the games, a win-win outcome for Seven and Foxtel."
But this move would be likely to spark new tensions between Foxtel's owners, PBL, News (each with 25 per cent) and Telstra (50per cent.) It would channel the dollars through Fox Sports, jointly owned by News and PBL, rather than Foxtel.
Evidence in the C7 case has shown that relationships between News and Telstra were particularly tense in 2001 when Telstra suspected News and PBL of over-pricing Fox Sports products to underwrite their losses on Foxtel.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said FFC was a huge plus for football. "A 24/7 dedicated channel is a fantastic vehicle for us," he said. "If Seven and Ten can come to an arrangement [with Foxtel] on broadcast rights, we'd be delighted. If that arrangement includes FFC, we'd be even more delighted."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19245536-36035,00.html
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Foxtel may grab bigger slice of pie
Caroline Wilson
The Age
June 2, 2006
THE prospect of half of next season's home-and-away games being sold to pay television gained momentum yesterday when it emerged that Foxtel had put forward a written bid to the Seven and Ten networks worth up to $60 million in return for four games each weekend from 2007.
Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams this week wrote to the bosses from Seven and Ten offering the two networks the same agreement Foxtel had reached with Channel Nine late last year — an agreement which Seven and Ten later matched.
The Foxtel offer to Seven and Ten also included a drastically reduced financial deal should it only be offered three games.
Williams is understood to have instructed Seven and Ten that his network required a resolution to negotiations by the end of July.
While Channel Seven's line yesterday remained in favour of a five-three split, with Foxtel receiving a better mix of games than in the current deal, speculation increased of a four-four split. Williams is scheduled to hold talks with Seven executives in Sydney early today.
Until now Foxtel, which is being sued by Channel Seven, has negotiated only with Network Ten on behalf of both free-to-air channels.
Today's meeting between Seven and Foxtel was to be the first between the parties over the AFL rights since Seven and Ten agreed to pay the AFL $780 million for the right to televise football until 2011.
Meanwhile, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou also flew to Sydney yesterday where he held individual meetings with Foxtel's Williams and Channel Ten sports chief David White before dining last night with Channel Nine chief executive and Collingwood president Eddie McGuire. Demetriou was also scheduled to have breakfast today with Seven chief executive David Leckie. Although the AFL boss continued to back away from the prospect of a night grand final, key players in the AFL's new media partnership of Channels Seven and Ten privately predicted the switch from tradition was inevitable.
Seven and Ten chiefs have not ruled out the prospect of a night play-off next season, while conceding they would have to convince the AFL the move was in the best interests of the game. Not only have the clubs softened their traditional stand, individual AFL commissioners are less determined to stick with a day play-off than in the past.
Five years ago the AFL also stated that the two preliminary finals would not be played 24 hours apart in fairness to both grand final teams, a pledge it later broke after striking a deal with Channel Ten.
The original agreement reached between Channel Nine and Foxtel was to have seen Nine televise Friday night football into Melbourne along with two games on Saturday (one on Saturday night) and a Sunday afternoon game to be televised no later than 3pm. Foxtel was to have retained its two Saturday games, along with a 1pm Sunday game followed by a twilight game starting at about 5pm.
The Seven and Ten plan allowed Foxtel three games — two on Saturday and one Sunday twilight game — which under the original plans would be one of the top two or three games of the round.
Such is the bad blood between Seven and Foxtel that the possibility of all eight weekly games remaining on free-to-air next year was not ruled out yesterday.
While speculation remained that Foxtel could shut down Fox Footy and televise AFL on its Fox Sports Three channel, alongside other Australian sports, the prospect of four AFL home-and-away games each round would certainly see the AFL channel remain broadcasting.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/06/01/1148956482774.html
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ESPN keen to present pay-TV bid
Jordan Chong
The Age
August 2, 2006
GIANT global sports network ESPN remains an active player in the drawn-out tussle for AFL pay-TV broadcast rights, a senior executive has confirmed.
Bernard Stewart, vice-president and general manager of ESPN Asia Pacific and responsible for its Australian operations, said he would love to televise AFL if the price was right.
Channel Seven and Ten snared all rights to telecast the sport from 2007 to 2011 in January this year for $780 million. However, the pay-TV component remains unresolved, leaving incumbent Foxtel (and its Fox Footy Channel) with an uncertain future. Like other parties, ESPN must wait and see what Channels Seven and Ten have to offer.
"This has been going on for some time and it's really about the league and the primary-rights holders making their own decisions as how they see it moving forward in this area," Stewart said.
"When we find out clearly what opportunities exist then we make decisions about whether or not to become an active negotiator in the process. We're listening as everyone else is."
Adding to the uncertainty, Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams told a conference in June he was "not at all confident" about negotiations over AFL pay-TV rights between his company and the two TV networks.
Stewart said ESPN would be keen to bid if it managed to develop the right business model. "For us to be interested in AFL, our financial model would be drastically different than what I'm sure anyone at Fox Sports and anyone else's is looking," he explained.
"We each have our own ways of looking at who we are and how we represent ourselves to consumers."
Media analyst Steve Allen from Fusion Strategy believed AFL could help increase ESPN's Australian presence. "If ESPN was ever going to want to become more local and relevant, here is an opportunity," Allen said.
Potentially adding further to its locally produced Australian content could be the an Australian edition of the network's flagship news program Sportscenter, which has already taken place throughout Asia and South America.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/08/01/1154198139883.html
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AFL games all likely to be televised free
Caroline Wilson
The Age
September 28, 2006
AFL fans could be in for an unprecedented feast of free television coverage from next year, with Channels Seven and Ten now almost certain to show every game, according to league chief Andrew Demetriou.
Just days before Foxtel is scheduled to shut down its Fox Footy channel this weekend, the pay TV provider has shown no signs of making a new offer for a three or four-game package.
"We are preparing the fixture (for next year) on the basis all eight games will be shown on free-to-air television," said Demetriou. "I fully believe that will be the outcome. I've believed that for weeks now and I don't see any indication that an agreement will go ahead with Foxtel. We have no issue with that."
The prospect of Seven and Ten sharing the entire $700 million cash component of the new five-year deal had been regarded as unworkable in terms of scheduling, given that the two networks would be forced to televise Saturday night games against each other.
"It's not ideal," conceded Ten sports chief David White, a key negotiator for the 2007-11 rights. "But if that's the reality, we are prepared for it and we believe it will grow the football audience as a result.
"It's highly likely now that we won't be doing a deal with Foxtel. I think the football public will be delighted they won't be paying up to $100 a month to watch their footy on TV."
The stalemate over next year's break-up of games is understood to have placed some pressure on the AFL as it prepares its 2007 draw, although Demetriou said the fixture would be completed on schedule in mid-October whether or not a final deal had been done.
The AFL chief is also believed to have conveyed to Seven and Ten yesterday that he would be delighted if they televised all games.
Of the query over how Channel Seven would cope with televising live games into the tough NSW and Queensland markets each Friday night against rugby league, Demetriou said he believed the network had several options.
While Seven has still not ruled out onpassing those games to SBS or selling them to a pay channel such as Sky or ESPN, the station has also spoken to community station Channel 31, which has indicated enthusiasm at the prospect of televising Friday night AFL games into Sydney and Brisbane.
Seven's regional affiliate Prime would televise those games into the smaller northern markets.
There also is uncertainty in the Seven camp over its new line-up of football broadcasters. While Bruce McAvaney seems certain to call and perhaps host Friday night football, few other calling positions have been confirmed.
Foxtel has not spoken to the new consortium officially since it marginally revised its annual $17 million offer for three of the eight weekly games to $21 million.
That was rejected by Seven and Ten, which would demand more than double that figure.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/09/27/1159337221792.html
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Channel 9 might be back in the picture
Damian Barrett
Herald-Sun
October 05, 2006 12:00am
TEN months -- to the day -- have passed since Channels 7 and 10 secured the 2007-11 AFL TV contract.
Arguably, they have less idea now than they did then about how matches will be broadcast next year.
Their AFL involvement is messy, becoming messier with every day of delay, and certain football people are edgy.
Depending on who one speaks with, the matching by Seven and Ten of the $780 million Channel 9-Foxtel bid will be proven a masterstroke or a disaster.
There are suggestions by TV executives that Seven and Ten, if they choose to broadcast all eight weekly matches, will share losses up to $45 million a year.
There is a thought held by some key AFL club officials that the uncertainty has caused a delay in the release of the 2007 fixture.
Then there is the doozy. As nigh-impossible as it sounds, talk has spread in the past week -- particularly from the mouths of some corporates at the Grand Final on Saturday -- that Nine may yet play a role in the broadcasting of football next year.
"I don't think that is going to happen," AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said yesterday.
"I think that is a million-to-one chance."
Nine boss Eddie McGuire said: "We haven't spoken with them (Seven and Ten). I don't know where they are at."
Demetriou, who has long denied the Seven-Ten issue is delaying the release of the 2007 fixture, said yesterday he was not pressuring the networks for a quick resolution.
But it is known that he and others at AFL House and in football are desperate to know how their games are to be broadcast next year.
If forced to cover all eight matches, Seven and Ten have three major problems.
One: meeting the AFL requirement of broadcasting matches live, or near live, into the northern states, particularly on Friday nights against Nine, which will be televising a rugby league double-header.
Two: the watering down of advertising dollars when they go head-to-head against each other in certain timeslots, mainly Saturday nights.
Three: production costs, which some in the industry estimate to be up to $1.5 million a game.
Channel 9 executives have become quite excited about the problems fronting Seven and Ten with AFL.
As Australia's biggest media buyer Harold Mitchell said yesterday: "They (Seven and Ten) say they are prepared to (broadcast all eight games), though they have been very careful.
"And I suspect they would rather that doesn't happen because while AFL is strong in the southern states, it is unlikely they would bring the really big numbers they would want on each channel.
"Overall, the AFL figures would look very good. But that might make Nine stronger as a result, being the alternative."
Foxtel has offered Seven-Ten about $21 million for three games a week from next year, and about $45 million for four matches.
The pay-TV operator has claimed those figures were the same as per its involvement with the Nine bid. Seven and Ten are convinced they are significantly less and have rejected them.
"I wouldn't be writing it as a disaster, that they (Seven and Ten) would be losing $40 million (a year), because that isn't the case," Mitchell said.
"There are a number of alternatives, including solving this.
"It is as, if not more, important to Foxtel as it is to Seven and Ten.
"The top 40 programs on Foxtel, 39 of them are sports programs.
"That's how they sell subscriptions."
The most likely outcome for AFL TV in 2007 remains a Seven-Ten-Foxtel mix.
Perhaps Nine, a 25 per cent shareholder in Foxtel, will be there, too, having brought Foxtel to the Seven-Ten negotiating table.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20526691-11088,00.html
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Channel 9 might be back in the picture
Damian Barrett
Herald-Sun
October 05, 2006 12:00am
Then there is the doozy. As nigh-impossible as it sounds, talk has spread in the past week -- particularly from the mouths of some corporates at the Grand Final on Saturday -- that Nine may yet play a role in the broadcasting of football next year.
I know Damian Barrett is a Channel 9 stooge with his obvious bias - but pluuuuuzeeeeeeeeee. Channel 9 working with Ch 7 - yeah right
"I don't think that is going to happen," AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said yesterday.
"I think that is a million-to-one chance."
Most intelligent thing Andy D's said all season :rollin
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Foxtel back in AFL mix
18 October 2006 Herald-Sun
Mike Sheahan and Damian Barrett
FOXTEL has reactivated its bid to telecast four AFL games a week from next year.
The pay-TV channel is in discussion with the Ten network, which is also representing its broadcast partner for the next five years, the Seven network.
It is believed the parties have set a 48-hour deadline for a resolution of the long-running issue.
If the Foxtel bid is successful, it will show games Friday nights into New South Wales and Queensland, Saturday afternoon and night nationally, and the early and twilight game nationally on Sundays.
The latest development in the bitter TV rights battle has prompted the AFL to delay the release of its 2007 fixture.
The fixture was due for release tomorrow, but the AFL's chief operating officer Ben Buckley admitted last night it has been "held back".
Foxtel will need to pay in the order of $55 million for four games a week, roughly the amount it committed to in its joint bid with the Nine network.
Seven and Ten, holding the right to bid last, won the 2007-11 rights when they matched the Nine-Foxtel offer of $780 million.
The latest known offer from Foxtel to Seven and Ten is $21 million for three games a week, and an unknown amount for four games.
Buckley was tight-lipped last night. "One of the reasons we held the fixture back was to deal with some of the issues brought up by Seven and Ten in relation to games and game times," he said.
Loosely speaking, Buckley was saying the AFL and the free-to-air networks still weren't sure whether Foxtel would be a participant.
Seven spokesman Ian Johnson said last night: "At the moment, we just have to work on the basis that we will be doing four (games) each."
Asked about Foxtel's reported fresh interest, he said: "I can't answer that."
The AFL broadcast landscape has been clouded by the on-going legal battle in which Seven is suing several media organisations, including Foxtel, over the demise of its pay-TV arm, C7.
Any AFL matches on Foxtel next year would be broadcast on Fox Sports 3. Regardless of the outcome of the latest negotiations, the Fox Footy channel will not be revived.
The fate of the channel's popular supporting programs is uncertain.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20601850%255E20322,00.html
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Announced on 3aw today that the TV rights deal is done.
Fox Sports 3 to show 4 'live and exclusive' matches per round plus replays of the 4 Seven/Ten broadcast matches. Official announcement is on Monday.
A weekly schedule was posted on BF:
Victoria
Friday night - 7 @ 8:30pm delay/live interstate
Saturday afternoon - Fox Sports 3 @ 2:00pm live
Saturday afternoon - 10 @ 3:30pm delay
Saturday night - 10 @7/7:30pm live/delay
Saturday night - Fox Sports 3 @ 7/7:30pm live
Sunday afternoon - 7 @ 1:00pm live (time may change as Seven don't need to fit in NRL game at 4.00pm like Nine did)
Sunday afternoon - Fox Sports 3 @ 2:00pm live
Sunday twilight - Fox Sports 3 @ 5:00pm live
Non AFL states
Friday night - Fox Sports 3 @ 7:30pm live / 7 @ 10:30pm delay (the earliest)
Saturday afternoon - 10 @ 2:00pm live
Saturday afternoon - Fox Sports 3 @ 2:00pm live
Saturday night - 10 @ night live/delay
Saturday night - Fox Sports 3 @ 7:30pm live
Sunday afternoon - 7 @ 1:00pm live
Sunday afternoon - Fox Sports 3 @ 2:00pm live
Sunday twilight - Fox Sports 3 @ 5:00pm live
According to a BF poster, WLF is dead for good, FFC building is getting sold and Fox won't have a capable live broadcast facility. On The Couch (or a derivative there of a weekly wrap program) will be the only program that will return on FS3 (and maybe a preview/pre-match program).
The deal is $156 Million a year. However, the cash component is around $139 Million. The cash break up is most likely now:
Foxtel 55 Million
Seven 45 Million
Ten 39 Million
Foxtel will also take up a few million of the contra component, offering free advertising on the Foxtel channels.
Foxtel will pay the most for 4 games plus replays, Seven will pay more than 10 because they get Friday nights.
Now it's likely that Foxtel has been promised the likely best games on Sunday and to alternate between best Saturday afternoon/Saturday night game with Ten. The AFL will now be working working to ensure that the balance between Friday to Sunday is likely to make it all work for the broadcasters.
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Announced on 3aw today that the TV rights deal is done.
Fox Sports 3 to show 4 'live and exclusive' matches per round plus replays of the 4 Seven/Ten broadcast matches. Official announcement is on Monday.
.
:blah :whistle :whistle :whistle
Waiting waiting :rollin
What a surprise
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This is interesting, funny but you'd think unlikely
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ABC in talks for new AFL rights
Mark Day
October 26, 2006
THE ABC has emerged as a possible circuit-breaker in the tense negotiations over AFL television rights for the next five years. A spokesman for the national broadcaster confirmed that talks had been held with the networks Seven and Ten consortium, which holds the AFL rights until 2011, and "the door is not shut" on the possibility of the ABC's digital channel, ABC2, broadcasting live games.
The spokesman said: "There have been ongoing discussions about various possible scenarios. Nothing substantive has emerged at this stage, but we don't shut the door to the possibility."
News of the ABC's willingness to break the logjam over AFL rights will put pressure on payTV provider Foxtel. It is understood the negotiations, which have been active for six months, are at a critical stage.
A deal could be announced in the next few days, with sources suggesting that if an agreement isn't reached soon, the talks are doomed. The parties are believed to be wrestling over a $25million gap between the asking price and the offer.
Foxtel has shared in AFL broadcasts for the past five years, carrying three live games a week and showing the remainder after partner channels Nine and Ten have carried them live. It has paid $34million a year for these rights and when the cost of coverage and its dedicated Fox Footy Channel - now closed - is added, its annual commitment to AFL will be about $50million.
Last year Ten switched its allegiance to Seven in bidding for the new five-year rights and in January the Seven-Ten consortium agreed to a $780million deal that obligated them to carry all games live on free-to-air TV unless they invoked a clause that allowed them to on-sell up to four games a week to pay TV.
The only viable outlet was Foxtel. In early negotiations, Foxtel offered about $45million for four games a week, including the new twilight game scheduled for Sunday evenings.
This offer was rejected. Foxtel's offer for three games was $21million, which the Seven-Ten consortium also rejected. It is understood the AFL told Foxtel it was unimpressed by a 40 per cent reduction in its offer when overall rights had increased by 40 per cent. (ed: now that is funny)
A stalemate followed, with Seven sources suggesting the consortium was comfortable with the concept of broadcasting all eight games a week live and nationally. But the release of the AFL 2007 fixtures yesterday makes it clear that Seven and Ten would be broadcasting games in opposition on most Saturdays and Sundays.
It is also clear that Seven or Ten would have scheduling difficulties with the twilight game, which would run across crucial Sunday night news services.
The obligation to broadcast all games live nationally would also mean one of the networks would be crunched in the ratings in Sydney and Brisbane, where rugby league has a considerably bigger following.
But the terms of the AFL contract may be met by the ABC stepping into these markets to carry the games live on ABC2.
Whether this solution would be approved by the AFL is unclear, given that ABC2 can be viewed only via a digital set-top box or Foxtel.
Last week negotiations picked up again, with Foxtel resubmitting its offer of $45million for four games. The consortium demanded $70 million. Significantly, the negotiations were led by representatives of Ten, not Seven, and involved Fox Sports head David Malone and international sports rights expert Ian Frykberg.
Seven is reportedly planning to start selling sponsorships to the 2007 season next week.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20644633-2722,00.html
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TV puts callers on hold
By Daryl Timms
Herald-Sun
November 04, 2006
SEVERAL top football commentators have been left in limbo as Channels 10 and Seven continue to negotiate with pay TV operator Foxtel.
The number of games Seven plans to telecast ranges from two to four, but depends on the network offloading games to another outlet.
The Seven and Ten consortium paid $760 million for the AFL television rights for 2007-2011. But under the agreement they must telecast all eight games or allocate games to another broadcaster.
Fox Footy was aligned to Channel 9's failed bid and went off the air the day after the AFL Grand Final.
About 50 people were employed by Fox Footy but most left the City Rd, Southbank, station on Tuesday when their contracts expired. Only a handful have been retained to work for Foxtel.
Foxtel has put in a bid for four matches to screen on Fox Sports 3, but it has been unable to agree on a price with the two free-to-air networks.
The confusion delayed the AFL fixture release and is now affecting commentators.
Several commentators who have applied for roles with Seven have been told that no jobs can be offered until it's known how many games it will broadcast.
Some commentators, including Brian Taylor and Dwayne Russell (Channel 9) and Tony Shaw (Fox Footy), also have radio commitments, but don't know whether to expand them.
Fox Footy's Clinton Grybus is also waiting for the deal to be done, as is co-commentator Kevin Bartlett.
While many believe an agreement with Foxtel is inevitable, there's a possibility it could still be weeks away.
Football's leading commentator, Nine's Dennis Cometti, is unsure whether he'll be calling football on TV next season.
His contract with Nine expires next month and he said last night he'd had no approach from Seven.
"I have no idea what's happening," Cometti said.
"They (Channel 9) have been terrific and there's been no urgency about it. But I haven't heard a thing."
Cometti said he had been happy to talk to Seven, but it depended on whether it believed there was a role for him.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20697574-23211,00.html
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Sell-out claim on AFL TV deal
Mark Day
The Australian
November 16, 2006
AUSTRALIAN football rights holders Channel 7 and Channel 10 are looking to community television stations in Sydney and Brisbane to meet their obligation to broadcast eight live AFL games a week and avoid a financial black hole on Friday and Sunday nights.
The surprise move was confirmed yesterday by the acting chief executive of Sydney's TVS Channel 31, Laurie Patton. He told Media: "There have been some discussions and we would be delighted to provide air time for this to occur. We see it as a very strong delivery of our community obligations under our licence conditions."
It is understood the AFL consortium of Seven and Ten has drawn up contingency plans to purchase air time on TVS and the Brisbane community station Briz31 if no agreement can be reached with pay-TV provider Foxtel.
Negotiations between the groups have been drawn out and acrimonious, with the parties reportedly $15 million apart.
Under the terms of Seven and Ten's $780 million five-year agreement with the AFL, the free-to-air broadcasters have the right to on-sell up to four games a week to pay TV. If no agreement is reached, they will be bound to broadcast all eight games a week on free-to-air. This includes one game on Friday night and a new twilight game on Sunday evening which must, under the contract, be broadcast live nationally.
This will suit Seven and Ten in the AFL southern states but is a recipe for financial disaster in NSW, ACT and Queensland. The ratings for live AFL head to head against an NRL double-header on Nine on Friday night, and Sunday league games leading into Nine's 6pm news, would be minuscule.
Seven refuses to detail its plans but has made it known that it has no intention of crippling its prime-time programming in Sydney and Brisbane, and has developed contingency plans with which it is "quite comfortable".
But the AFL is reported to be deeply unhappy with the plan to use the community channels. No AFL official would comment yesterday, but it is understood the AFL is seething over what it sees as a sell-out by Seven and Ten.
"There is no way that this is in the spirit of the agreement," a source said. "The whole aim is to put football before the biggest possible audience. That's what Seven promised. This trashes that promise."
Many households in Sydney are unable to pick up UHF channel 31 and the channel operator, Television Sydney, is under great financial pressure. TVS has its studios on the campus of the University of Western Sydney and broadcasts from the ABC's Gore Hill tower.
But its UHF signal is weak and regarded as inferior by those who can pick it up.
Station sources admitted there were black spots, including the northern beaches, but the signal was available in most elevated areas of Sydney, from Wollongong to the central coast.
Brisbane's Channel 31 signal is more widely received but neither community channel extends to country areas, which will disappoint the AFL because it is keen to promote its code throughout the nation.
The financial future of TVS is under a cloud. Last month it was reported it would soon run out of cash unless more funds were made available by the University of Western Sydney. It has already committed $1.5 million and guaranteed a $2 million bank loan.
The station is reportedly losing $73,000 a month. As a community station it is entitled to sell up to eight hours a day of air time to outside profit-making companies and it can carry seven minutes an hour of sponsorship advertising.
This means the consortium could buy the air time it needs on Friday nights and Sunday evenings, while keeping the revenue from selling up to 21 minutes of advertising during a three-hour game. A deal with the Seven-Ten consortium might provide financial salvation for the station, as well as being a way to protect as much revenue as possible. But it would be a far costlier exercise than doing a deal with Foxtel, which has offered $45 million for the rights to broadcast four live games a week, plus replays of all other games. Seven and Ten have demanded $60 million.
If the Seven-Ten consortium pays TVS and Briz 31 for air time to show the Friday night and Sunday evening games, it will increase the cost impact of the rights purchase.
The consortium will have to pick up the entire cost of production for eight matches a week, as well as forgo advertising and revenue from Foxtel. Market analysts estimate the negative impact of a go-it-alone decision at $80 million a year.
Seven would not comment yesterday.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20765443-2722,00.html
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Packer the stumbling block in AFL's TV deal
Caroline Wilson
The Age
November 21, 2006
CHANNEL Nine boss James Packer is believed to have been the major influence behind Foxtel's refusal to complete an AFL broadcast deal with Channels Ten and Seven.
The Publishing and Broadcasting Limited chief has been reluctant to increase Foxtel's $45 million bid for a four-game weekly package of home-and-away matches, which has been rejected by the new AFL media consortium.
With the issue of the AFL's 2007 TV fixture certain to come to a head over the next week, football and broadcasting chiefs met in Werribee last night, midway through the AFL's two-day think-tank.
While the two parties remained divided over whether a community network such as Channel 31 would be legally allowed under the terms of the new broadcast agreement to televise Friday night games into Sydney and Brisbane, The Age understands that several other options remain open to Seven should it fail to sell its Friday night games in the tough northern markets to Foxtel and its Fox Sports Three.
It remains more than likely that a pay network such as ESPN will televise those games for Channel Seven, despite yesterday's insistence from TVS chief, Laurie Patton, that TVS had invested in a powerful transmitter that gave it the ability to be seen across Sydney.
"TVS broadcasts from the same Gore Hill tower as the ABC and SBS and shares a high-powered antenna with SBS," Patton said.
"According to our transmission company, Broadcast Australia, TVS' coverage of Sydney is broadly comparable with SBS and the ABC — reaching more than two million potential viewers."
Seven's Melbourne chief Ian Johnson, along with Ten chairman Nick Falloon and his chief executive Grant Blackley, News Limited executive Julian Clarke and Telstra's Justin Milne attended last night's commission meeting.
News Limited and PBL are joint owners of Foxtel, and News Limited executives have privately conceded to the AFL that the PBL board has been unwilling to increase its $45 million bid.
Although Channels Seven, Ten and Foxtel are expected to meet before a final decision is reached, the deadline for next year's broadcast commitments remains unofficially set by the free-to-air networks as the start of December.
Seven and Ten have already planned a public announcement of their 2007 eight-games-a-round fixture and it is believed the two networks have no intention of going back to the negotiating table with Foxtel at the end of next season should a deal not be reached.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/11/20/1163871340092.html
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With the issue of the AFL's 2007 TV fixture certain to come to a head over the next week, football and broadcasting chiefs met in Werribee last night
If it's going to hit the fan next week they're where plenty is stored up. ;D
What about the regional audience? They wouldn't get ch31 (lucky buggers ;)), would they get TVS?
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What a joke this is. The country's most popular sport on community tv. Next they'll have the bloke from Versali's Garden on Ch 31 as goalumpire and every time there's a goal he'll give the thumbs up and say "maresi" (I hope I got the Greek right Ramps).
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What about the regional audience? They wouldn't get ch31 (lucky buggers ;)), would they get TVS?
I reckon the Regionals are covered FF because the Prime Network will take the coverage and where Prime can't it will be Southern Cross.
The problem area will be live into Sydney & Brisbane - local.
I still think ESPN is in with a show
Typical bloody Packer attitude - sook sook - my personal view has always been that Foxtel needs the footy - it will hurt them if they don't have some sort of AFL coverage
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Footy goes to air for free
Caroline Wilson
The Age
November 23, 2006
EVERY AFL game will be shown on free-to-air television next season following yesterday's breakdown of last-ditch negotiations between Channels Seven, Ten and Foxtel.
Seven and Ten, which in January won the AFL television rights with a $780 million bid over five years, vowed privately last night that they would show all AFL home-and-away games and finals until 2011.
They have already begun preparing an advertising campaign urging pay TV subscribers to turn in their transponders.
The breakdown in talks means the networks will be paying almost double what they had planned. The financial winners will be AFL fans, who will no longer have to pay to watch AFL games.
As first revealed by The Age in September, community station Channel 31 is now likely to be called in to show matches and football events that Seven and Ten are committed to under their contract with the AFL. This could include some pre-season games into Melbourne.
The stand by Seven and Ten followed an uneasy meeting in Sydney yesterday involving Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams, Seven CEO David Leckie and Ten's Grant Blackley. Mr Williams said Foxtel would not increase its $45 million offer to show four games a week. The networks want $60 million.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou expressed his displeasure at the prospect of Channel 31 broadcasting games, but said it was not the AFL's problem if a deal could not be struck.
"Seven and Ten have purchased the right to eight free-to-air games and the right to on-sell up to four games to another broadcaster should they come to an arrangement. Failing that, they will be showing eight games on free-to-air and that's what we expect," he said.
Demetriou would not say whether the AFL would veto any deal to on-sell games to Channel 31, but added: "Last time I checked I couldn't get Channel 31."
The AFL would be happy to see games on SBS, the ABC or Foxtel. When asked about a possible deal with Channel 31, Demetriou replied: "We'd be thrilled with ABC and SBS."
Only a major policy backflip by Foxtel and its key shareholder, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, could now see AFL football shown next year on the recently launched Fox Sports Three.
Mr Williams told the free-to-air networks that Foxtel planned to retain some commitment to AFL through panel programs such as On The Couch.
Seven and Ten executives, who dined with AFL officials at Werribee earlier this week, told them that yesterday's meeting would prove the final chance for Foxtel to come back on board.
Ten chairman Nick Falloon is believed to have emphasised that Foxtel would miss out on football for five years if it did not come on board.
The AFL is believed to have written to Seven and Ten requesting details of their proposed deal with Channel 31, including the quality of its signal. The community network might also be used to televise events such as the All-Australian team announcement, the AFL draft and Hall of Fame inductions.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/11/22/1163871482557.html
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From the Herald-Sun
23 November 2006
Daryl Timms
Demetriou also said he was not embarrassed that Channels 9 and 10 were still negotiating with other parties to broadcast AFL matches.
He said the AFL had received its first payment from the two free-to-air networks that have paid $780 million to broadcast footy for the next five years.
The deal allows for the two networks to show all eight games a week on commercial TV or they can on-sell up to four games to another broadcaster.
"I have no reason to doubt that they will fulfil their contractual obligations, so it's not embarrassing for us at all," Demetriou said.
"Since this arrangement has been announced, I have heard that they are selling rights to SBS, they are selling the rights to the ABC and they are selling the rights to Foxtel, Fox Sports, ESPN and Channel 31. I don't know whether any of those are correct."
Demetriou said there had been no deadline set and he did not see any problem from the AFL's behalf if the deal was done just before the start of next season.
He conceded the AFL did have the right of veto but would not speculate if it would be used should the two networks strike up a deal with community network Channel 31.
"Last time I checked, I couldn't get Channel 31. I think I got the trots on it a few years ago in the snow," he said.
Demetriou said the AFL would be thrilled if a deal could be done with Foxtel, the ABC or SBS. But asked about Channel 31, he replied: "We'd be thrilled with the ABC and SBS."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20805499%255E20322,00.html
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Apparently there's going to be ads to tell people to get rid of their pay TV subscription because of the breakdown with Foxtel
Goody, then we could watch 20 to 1 and CSI shows all week long :banghead
Yeah, I know it's 9, but free-to-air at the moment is crap.
Apologies to the ABC
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From the Herald-Sun
23 November 2006
Daryl Timms
Demetriou also said he was not embarrassed that Channels 9 and 10 were still negotiating with other parties to broadcast AFL matches.
Andy D may not be embarrassed but Mr timms should be - Channels 9 and 10... :wallywink get with times Daryl - Ch 9 is history
And just a bit advice to Andy D - update your web-site man your TV broadcast partners are Channels 7 and 10
not 9 & 10 - I know it kills ya' but 9 are gawn ;D :rollin
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Agree Moi. FTA tv is mostly crap at the moment :sleep.
How is Foxtel going to do without footy ??? Alot of people only had it mainly for the footy.
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Fun times ahead I reckon.
From where I am sitting ABC2 is looking mighty good to assist Chs 7 & 10 with coverage into Sydney
I have to say for tiger fans with us having 5 interstate trips in 2007 the idea that everyone will have the ability to see them is a good thing for the fan.
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Foxtel vows to take on AFL using rival codes
Caroline Wilson and Michael Gleeson
The Age
November 24, 2006
FOXTEL chief executive Kim Williams has vowed to take on AFL football through his network's three rival codes — soccer, rugby union and rugby league.
Conceding that Foxtel's bid to televise four AFL games a week in 2007 was now almost certainly doomed, Mr Williams launched a stinging attack on Channels Seven and Ten for their arrogance and inconsistency and accused the free-to-air networks of deceiving the football public.
"People forget we hold the rights to the three other football codes in this country," an angry Mr Williams told The Age. "I do know that we televise 100 per cent of A-League games every week, 100 per cent of the Super 14s and five out of eight rugby league games every week.
"Does that mean there will be competition? You betcha."
While AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday applauded the televising of all eight games each week on free-to-air as "great for the game", it seems certain the AFL will prevent community network Channel 31 from televising Friday night games into Sydney and Brisbane and also from showing pre-season games into Melbourne.
"I can't get Channel 31," he reiterated. "I don't know if many people can, so as it stands today all I know is we've got football on Seven and Ten," he said. He said that the AFL reserved the right to sanction which stations were sub-licensed to show football.
Agreeing that the dispute between the AFL's five-year pay TV partner and Seven and Ten centred on money, Mr Demetriou said eight games on free-to-air would increase the game's audience.
Said Mr Williams of the Channel 31 proposal: "That is consistent with the level of respect Seven and Ten have brought to the negotiating table."
Making it clear that Wednesday's last-ditch talks with Channels Seven and Ten — as revealed in yesterday's Age — had been punctuated with acrimony and accusations, Mr Williams again stressed that Foxtel's annual $45 million offer for four weekly games was identical to the offer made in partnership with Channel Nine last December. Seven and Ten, which have placed an asking price of $65 million on a four-game package but would accept $60 million, firmly believe Foxtel was paying $60 million as part of the Nine bid.
But Mr Williams said that was untrue and Seven and Ten were "deceiving everyone". He also denied that the loss of AFL games would irreparably damage Foxtel. "As I said to Seven and Ten, in terms of South Australia and Western Australia, the impact on our subscriptions will be zero. Not once have we been able to televise local games into those states," he said.
"What we did do was celebrate, interrogate and appreciate the code through our overall coverage. We will wait for the market to decide."
Channel Seven's football boss Ian Johnson said his network would now set about preparing its return to AFL via a four-game commitment and would soon appoint its expanded commentary team on that basis.
Mr Demetriou said he did not believe the game's brand or prestige was damaged by being bandied about between networks and potentially foisted onto a low-scale community station in their prime growth markets. "It's a fantastic outcome for our supporters, I don't know why anyone thinks it's damaging our brand," he said.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/11/23/1163871551066.html
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Seven, Ten play hardball on AFL rights
24 November 2006 Herald-Sun
Daryl Timms
CHANNEL 7 has set a seven-day deadline to find another broadcaster to televise AFL games next season.
If one is not found by next Friday, Seven and its AFL television-rights partner Channel 10 will show all eight games each round between them.
The networks have tried to sell four games each round to Foxtel. However the pay-TV provider has offered $45 million, not the $60 million asking price.
After paying $780 million for the television rights for the 2007-11 seasons, the two commercial networks say they will not budge on their asking price for four games. Nor will Foxtel, which planned to show the games on Fox Sports 3.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said this week the league had an agreement with Channels 7 and 10 to show eight games.
He said the agreement was that the two networks had to televise all eight games, but could sell up to four games.
Although SBS and the ABC have been linked as the third broadcaster of games, Demetriou cast doubts on community station Channel 31 having the penetration required to show matches.
Channel 7's Melbourne boss Ian Johnson said yesterday the two networks had no option but to show all eight games after more talks with Foxtel this week broke down.
"This is all getting very close to the absolute deadline, in my opinion, because we have to book OB (outside broadcast vans), get crews and commentators and we have to get out in the marketplace to sell this stuff," Johnson said.
"If we can't come to an arrangement, we just have to move on. We have got no choice.
"I think the footy fans will be rapt, but I can't deny that it's not ideal for us."
Channel 7 ideally would like to televise two games a round, which would leave Channel 10 with two, while Foxtel would be allocated four.
Johnson said the absolute deadline to find another broadcaster would be December 1 -- next Friday.
He said it was not ideal for the two networks to broadcast games against each other in similar time slots.
While it was reported yesterday that Channel 31 could broadcast games in Melbourne next season, the station vigorously denied the claims in a press release yesterday.
However, as was reported last week, TVS in Sydney and Brisbane's Channel 31 have been approached by Seven and Ten to broadcast games in their states.
Channel 10's marketing and publicity manager for sport Gus Seebeck said yesterday his network had been preparing for quite some time for the possibility of broadcasting four games.
"And it's something that we are very comfortable with and, certainly from where I sit, quite excited about," Seebeck said.
"It's now at a time where everyone has to put things into place to prepare for next year. We are obviously heading well down that path now."
Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams told the Herald Sun last night: "We take no pleasure in this position, but we have been consistent from day one (May 31).
"While we still retain a very strong commitment to the AFL, we are not willing to go beyond the money ($45 million) we put on the table some months ago.
"Is it over? I'm old-fashioned. I think you never say 'never'. I think it's bad luck to say that."
Williams reiterated that the Foxtel offer to Seven and Ten was exactly the offer to PBL in the joint Nine-Foxtel offer.
A Foxtel spokesman said: "They seem to think that if they keep rattling the cage, more money will fall out.
"It won't."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20812912^20322,00.html
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Had to chuckle
FOXTEL chief executive Kim Williams has vowed to take on AFL football through his network's three rival codes — soccer, rugby union and rugby league.
"People forget we hold the rights to the three other football codes in this country," an angry Mr Williams told The Age. "I do know that we televise 100 per cent of A-League games every week, 100 per cent of the Super 14s and five out of eight rugby league games every week.
"Does that mean there will be competition? You betcha."
He is right they do have the rights to all this codes but...ummm.... last time I checked the A-League is a summer sport so how can they use it to take on the AFL coverage when it wont be on?
The Super 14's lasts er... what... 14-16 weeks and are over by the middle of the year so I am confused.
The only code they will really have to take on the AFL coverage is the NRL which is fine and good because I don't mind league.
But they have 3 dedicated sports channels and I cannot see where they are going to get the content now to fill 'em ::)
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Andy D announced today all 8 games will be on free to air tv but a SEN reporter still believes a deal with Fox will be done similar to the one we had but without Fox Footy channel obviously.
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Andy D announced today all 8 games will be on free to air tv but a SEN reporter still believes a deal with Fox will be done similar to the one we had but without Fox Footy channel obviously.
When it is all said and done Andy D doesn't care if they are all on FTA or split between FTA and PayTV because the league still gets their $780 million.
Personally - I don't really care anymore either :sleep :sleep
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Andy D announced today all 8 games will be on free to air tv but a SEN reporter still believes a deal with Fox will be done similar to the one we had but without Fox Footy channel obviously.
When it is all said and done Andy D doesn't care if they are all on FTA or split between FTA and PayTV because the league still gets their $780 million.
Personally - I don't really care anymore either :sleep :sleep
True WP. I just wish they make a bloody final decision :sleep.
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Devil is in the detail for TV rights
Caroline Wilson
The Age
December 3, 2006
Seven and Ten's relationship with the AFL shows little sign of improvement, writes Caroline Wilson.
IS THERE no end to the AFL's broadcasting saga? Virtually 12 months have passed since football chiefs Andrew Demetriou and Ron Evans announced the deal of a lifetime with Channel Nine and Foxtel, a deal that would plough millions of dollars into the game at every level and guarantee the survival of the struggling clubs for at least another five years.
For a time things moved quickly after that. Three days after the AFL's triumphant announcement, Kerry Packer died, leaving Australia's two other commercial free-to-air networks with a massive choice. But by then, channels Seven and Ten had already made that choice. They would match Nine's bid and worry about Foxtel later.
They did that less than a fortnight later. The AFL, knowing it had lost significant control over its broadcast rights — having sold Channel Seven the right to bid first and last back in the late 1990s — issued a brief press statement announcing its new media partners.
Actually sitting down and talking with Seven and Ten took much longer — summer had ended and the first meeting did not go well — and the reality now is that the AFL's loss of control, coupled with the Federal Government's insistence that it cannot deal directly with pay TV, means that the broadcast schedule for 2007 remains in doubt.
Foxtel is officially out of the picture but no one seems prepared to rule the pay network out unconditionally. Various Foxtel shareholders and subsidiaries continue to attempt to re-open negotiations, which is not surprising given the massive hit the network will take in Victoria, particularly, should it lose AFL.
The AFL is forging ahead with the prospect of eight free-to-air games each weekend and given that the Fox Footy Channel has been permanently removed whether or not Foxtel blinks, that seems the best result for the traditional football states and the struggling clubs.
But for the second media deal in succession, the developing markets, where the game must entrench itself, could be harmed largely because the AFL went for the dollar with not enough concern for the detail.
This time around, regional areas of NSW and southern Queensland — so channels Seven and Ten assure us — will be well served by regional networks.
They also assure us, less convincingly, that community television can take care of Sydney and Brisbane, which have been promised live Friday night football. Two days ago, the new rights-holders wrote to the AFL demonstrating why Channel 31 was a reasonable option. The AFL will not buy it.
The other argument Seven and Ten is conducting is over the prospect of Saturday night games. The networks are pushing the league to stagger Saturday nights to allow one game to start at around 6.30pm and the other closer to 8pm for an 8.30 television kick-off.
Again the AFL is dubious, having been happy with the regular timeslots of the past five years. But it has to work with its new partners and Demetriou is putting on a brave and diplomatic face at present. The problem is that neither party seems to fully trust the other, which is not exactly the basis for a solid partnership.
If there is one thing the AFL cherishes, it is its fixture. Unlike rugby league, or virtually any sporting competition in this country, AFL fans can plan their football travel months in advance, and by joining forces Seven and Ten antagonise the league by threatening that control.
Not surprisingly, when the subject of buying first and last bidding rights came up this time, a terse negative was the reply.
Seven and Ten insist that the AFL was greedy, that it wanted to do a deal with Nine and Foxtel and had it taken a minor financial hit a year ago, it would have done a better deal with them in terms of game development around the country.
If there is an uneasiness between Seven, which continues to remain coy over its commentary line-up, and Ten over Seven's plunder of the V8 Supercars and the question of which network will host the 2007 grand final — the much-mooted coin toss is reportedly days away — then both parties are denying it.
The AFL continues to insist it is more than happy with the current state of affairs despite the fact it seems to have more control over the Kangaroos and Carlton at present than it does over just who will televise Friday night football into Sydney and Brisbane.
The fact remains that we are nearing Christmas yet again and still the 2007 AFL picture is unclear. The AFL might boast a lucrative partnership, but right now it is not showing any signs of being the start of a beautiful friendship.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/12/02/1164777848990.html
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Seven to call TV rights bluff
07 December 2006
Herald-Sun
Daryl Timms
FOOTBALL'S most expensive game of bluff will finally end tomorrow when Channel 7 starts to hire footy commentators and broadcast facilities for the 2007 season.
Seven's Melbourne chief executive Ian Johnson last night said there had been plenty of "rumblings" in recent days that Foxtel would make a late, improved offer to secure the broadcast rights for four games each round.
While Foxtel has offered $45 million for the four games, it has refused the $60 million demanded by Channels 7 and 10.
Without Foxtel, or an alternative broadcaster, to televise four games a round, all eight games will be shown free-to-air by Seven and Ten, which paid $780 million to televise footy for the next five years.
Johnson said his network could wait no longer than today.
"We have to go, we have to book the OB vans (outside broadcast vans) by Friday," he said last night.
"We are booking them on Friday, that's it."
While Johnson said there had been a lot of "rumblings" about a Foxtel offer, he had heard nothing official.
"I would imagine we would hear something in the next two days and if the rumours are right it could be good, but I can't substantiate the rumours."
Johnson said that, ideally, Seven only wanted to broadcast two games a round, which would also leave Ten with two and Foxtel with four.
An AFL spokesman last night described as "absolute rubbish" a suggestion that the league would consider providing the $15 million shortfall to Foxtel to guarantee the game's coverage.
Channel 31's Melbourne chairman Peter Lane said last night there had been no last-minute approach for the community network to broadcast any AFL games in Melbourne.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20884749%255E20322,00.html
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Two up for grand final coin decision
Caroline Wilson and Geoff McClure
The Age
December 8, 2006
The full picture of next season's AFL broadcast schedule is finally beginning to take shape, with Channels Seven and Ten set to decide the host of the 2007 grand final as early as today.
A series of communications in Sydney this week have set up the tossing of a coin - to take place early today or on Monday - with a Channel Seven executive throwing up the coin and a Channel Ten executive calling heads or tails.
In another broadcasting development, Channel Seven has virtually secured the services of Channel Nine's Friday night football caller Dennis Cometti, who will now certainly call the marquee game each week for the Seven Network alongside host Bruce McAvaney.
As reported in The Age last month, the two will join special commentator Tim Watson with a second special commentary position yet to be decided. Former Bomber and physiotherapist Ricky Olarenshaw continues to firm as Seven's boundary medical expert.
Cometti is understood to have spoken several days ago with Seven chairman Kerry Stokes and cleared up issues Stokes might have had with his former employee.
Although Cometti, who has worked with Nine for the past five years as a commentator as well as a sportscaster in Perth, has not yet signed a contract at Seven, the unofficial agreement is that he will call Friday night football and one other game each weekend for his old network.
The two networks were last night planning to announce the grand final result in a joint statement either today or on Monday. The grand final coverage will be shared over the five years of the broadcast agreement with the biggest game of the season alternating each year and the Brownlow Medal count being hosted by the non-grand final station.
Despite speculation regarding the prospect of a new bid from Foxtel and the widespread belief that the AFL is still quietly working with Foxtel in a bid to convince the pay TV carrier to increase its offer for four weekly games, no communication between the free-to-air and pay networks has taken place this week. Seven and Ten continue to insist they will host all eight weekly home-and-away games.
The loser of the coin toss will host not only next year's Brownlow count but also have choice of preliminary, semi, qualifying and elimination finals.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/12/07/1165081089035.html
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According to Johnson this morning, Cometti will be there next season
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New hope for NSW AFL fans
By Nikki Tugwell
Daily Telegraph
December 13, 2006
THE fight to have AFL matches accessible to NSW fans on free-to-air TV took an encouraging twist last night when SBS emerged as a potential saviour.
Seven Network spokesman Simon Francis confirmed Friday night matches will be sold to SBS or Channel 31.
The AFL, however, must approve any deal -- and its strong preference is SBS. If an arrangement eventuates, it would be the third major coup for SBS in 16 months -- following its Ashes and World Cup successes.
When asked specifically if the arrangement would be with either SBS or Channel 31, Francis said: "Correct. They are the two primary options."
The games in question are non-Swans fixtures. AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou doubts Channel 31 has the required penetration.
"If SBS were showing it, they have an outstanding reach and they are a great broadcaster," Demetriou said.
"They (Seven) need our consent. That is part of the deal so we'll wait and see."
The ABC could still televise AFL, if they were to strike a deal with Ten.
Under a Seven-SBS arrangement, SBS would broadcast Seven's coverage of Friday night football live into Sydney. That match would also be replayed on Seven about 10.30pm or 11pm.
"Channel 9 (when they had the AFL's TV rights) were not willing to televise that (Friday night) game until about 11.30pm," Francis said. "It will be earlier on Seven and also live on another broadcast platform."
Live free-to-air coverage of both Swans and non-Swans games in Sydney will, in part, fill the void left by the Fox Footy Channel's closure in September. Northern state fans, often starved of AFL coverage and information, were the hardest hit by Fox Footy's demise.
In January, Seven and Ten secured the AFL's $780 million broadcast rights for 2007-2011. Part of the deal is that Friday night games are televised live into Sydney and Brisbane. Under the deal, the two networks can on-sell up to four games a week.
Foxtel wanted a four-game package and the free-to-air networks were pushing a three-game package. Neither could agree on a price, leaving Foxtel out of the loop.
"The offer that was put forward last year," Francis continued, "where the matches go live into every capital city ... in the northern states, the matches would not be seen on Seven in particular or on Ten in some cases. They would be on another broadcast platform."
The "live" clause in the AFL rights deal is an improvement for AFL fans in NSW.
Under the previous deal, Friday night games were shown after 11pm on Nine into the northern states (unless Sydney or Brisbane were playing) or at 9.30pm by Fox Footy.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20916754-23211,00.html
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Sounds like good news for people in regional areas
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Austar splits on AFL deal
Mark Day
December 14, 2006
PAY-TELEVISION provider Austar is close to reaching a deal with the AFL rights holders, the Seven and Ten networks, to provide a regional AFL coverage next year.
The move, expected to be confirmed in the next few days, will increase pressure on the dominant pay-TV operator, Foxtel, to reach a similar agreement covering the nation's capital cities.
Foxtel is already under heavy pressure from the AFL to lift its offer of $45million for four live games a week in the 2007 season.
Reports have been circulating for the past two weeks that new negotiations were under way after a year of fruitless discussions and a last-minute agreement was possible.
It now has emerged that the new negotiations involved Austar, which services all regions outside the capital cities and the Gold Coast.
An Austar spokesperson told Media: "We have been very keen to make sure AFL is still available for our customers and we are still keen to encourage that as an appropriate outcome."
Foxtel and Austar customers have been watching AFL games for the past five years, with Foxtel subcontracting rights from its 25 per cent owners, News Limited (publisher of The Australian).
Austar shares the programming of most of its 80 satellite-delivered channels with Foxtel.
In January this year the Seven-Ten consortium matched a bid of $780million made by Nine Network owner Publishing and
Broadcasting Limited to snare the rights from 2007 to 2011. It offered to sell pay-TV rights to Foxtel for $60 million a year but Foxtel has refused to budge beyond $45 million a year.
Foxtel has already closed its dedicated Footy Channel, saying AFL would be shown on Fox Sports 3 if any deal were made. It is believed Austar would provide a new channel to carry games live across regional Australia if it closes its deal with Seven and Ten.
Sources at Austar say they have been increasingly frustrated by the inability of Foxtel and the AFL consortium to reach an agreement, and have attempted to mount pressure to bring about a change of mind.
In the absence of any movement from Foxtel, Austar initiated detailed talks with the consortium about establishing a regional channel. "These talks have been very positive," according to one source.
At the beginning of December, Seven and Ten locked in their plans to broadcast all eight games live on their free-to-air channels.
Seven will carry the Friday night game and Ten will carry the new Sunday twilight game. The partners will be in head-to-head competition on Saturday and Sunday afternoons but say this makes better economic sense than assigning rights to Foxtel too cheaply.
Asked if a last-ditch deal with Foxtel was imminent, a source at Seven said: "There have been no more talks. The broadcast trucks are ordered, the graphics are done and the commentary teams are in place. If there were to be a development, we could regroup and revisit our plans, but we don't expect it."
A Foxtel spokesman said the company had no comment.
Meanwhile, the operators of Sydney community station TVS Channel 31 have warned their service will be switched off December 22 if new funding arrangements cannot be put in place. TVS partners Slice TV and the University of Western Sydney are at loggerheads over funding issues and it is unlikely that new funds can be arranged unless Slice agrees to leave the partnership.
If Channel 31 closes, Seven and Ten will be denied an opportunity to pass on Friday and Sunday night games for broadcast on its signal while it carries programs that would rate higher than AFL in the Sydney market.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20922781-2722,00.html
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Foxtel lifts bid for league rights
Caroline Wilson
The Age
December 15, 2006
THE first significant indication that Foxtel would return to cover AFL next season occurred yesterday when the pay television network unofficially lifted its bid for four weekly games next year.
In a move that has been strongly encouraged by the AFL, fearful at the damage community television would inflict upon its Sydney and Brisbane markets, key Foxtel executives are believed to have indicated to Channels Seven and Ten that they would be prepared to pay at least $50 million a year for the right to broadcast half the AFL's home-and-away fixtures.
Channels Seven and Ten, in turn, are believed to be prepared to drop their asking price from $60 million to $55 million, creating a scenario in which a deal now appears highly likely. Foxtel's change of heart — the AFL's five-year pay TV broadcast partner has insisted it would not pay more than $45 million for four AFL weekly fixtures — has come about following a series of talks believed to have involved AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.
News Ltd and Fox Sport executives also have been pushing for a resolution to the fractured negotiation that fell apart late last month at a meeting in Sydney involving Seven and Ten chief executives and Foxtel chief Kim Williams, who is believed to have departed from the negotiation process.
At the time of the breakdown of talks, all parties said the inevitable scenario involved eight free-to-air games each weekend during the AFL season. As a result, a series of appointments and moves have been made within the network, including Ten's unofficial appointment of a Sunday twilight calling team, a move that has led to a key commentator such as Robert Walls relinquishing his Sunday radio commitments to call football on Ten.
While the Foxtel approach remains unofficial and uncertain, key figures in the long-running saga agreed that yesterday's move was the first real sign of a three-way partnership.
The AFL has repeatedly denied that it would inject money into any Foxtel bid — football would be shown on Fox Sports Three under any new agreement, with two games shown each Saturday and two on Sunday — but it remains determined to bring its five-year partner back to the negotiating table.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/12/14/1165685824222.html
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THE first significant indication that Foxtel would return to cover AFL next season occurred yesterday when the pay television network unofficially lifted its bid for four weekly games next year.
Thank gawd all this bluffing is nearing a end.
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TV rights deal looms
16 December 2006 Herald-Sun
Damian Barrett
FOXTEL, Channel 10 and Channel 7 are hoping to reach agreement on AFL broadcast rights before Christmas.
After 12 months of bluff, a meeting in Sydney yesterday brought the three parties closer to agreement.
Seven and Ten have lowered their financial demands from the pay-TV provider to broadcast four matches a round from next year.
The AFL's free-to-air partners had told Foxtel they wanted $60 million a year. Foxtel said it would pay $45 million a year.
The parties are now working towards a $50-$55 million a year agreement.
Seven and Ten in January committed $780 million for the 2007-11 AFL rights when they matched a Foxtel-Channel 9 bid.
The AFL is desperate for Foxtel's involvement.
It sees the pay-TV network as the best avenue for promoting and broadcasting the game in the northern states.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20934995%255E20322,00.html
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On 3aw tonight they are saying this on again off again tv rights deal is off again ::) due to a dispute over who shows SA and WA games, and it's back to Seven-Ten showing all 8 games on FTA. Apparently Caro will have more about this tomorrow.
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Foxtel rejected in bid to show four games weekly
Caroline Wilson
The Age
December 20, 2006
THE long-running football broadcasting saga seems to have come to a close, with Channels Seven and Ten last night rejecting a $50 million cash bid from Foxtel to buy and televise half the competition's 2007 home-and-away games.
The prospect of eight free-to-air games on television each weekend appears a certainty, with Channel Seven last night unofficially insisting it would negotiate with the AFL to stagger the two networks on Saturday night games and put Friday night football in Sydney and Brisbane to Channel 31.
Yesterday's failure in talks between the three parties looks certain to create more tension between Seven, Ten and the AFL, given that the league has continued to reject Channel 31 as a broadcaster and has indicated that it will not be moving the timeslots of its Saturday night games to appease commercial TV.
Both those issues are expected to come to a head in the new year, with the AFL stipulating it would accept only the ABC or SBS as an alternative to Seven as a free-to-air broadcaster of Friday night football into its two crucial northern markets.
After two weeks of delays, Seven and Ten will toss the 2007 grand final coin this week and both networks will finalise their broadcast teams. A more immediate issue will be the division of the eight pre-season games for round one of the NAB Cup series in February.
As revealed in The Age five days ago, Foxtel returned to the negotiating table last week, lifting its four-game bid from $45 million to $50 million. While the extra $5 million was to be funded by Austar, the pay-TV carrier also put forward a series of demands involving eight exclusive live games into Perth and Adelaide — demands rejected by Seven and Ten.
Yesterday, Channel Seven chief executive David Leckie, Ten sport chief David White, Foxtel executive Peter Campbell and Fox Sports chief David Malone — along with their respective legal teams — took one hour to discuss Foxtel's terms before Seven and Ten, after the close of talks, rejected the bid.
According to Foxtel's Campbell, the bid fell $8 million short. "We thought it was a good offer," Campbell said last night. "Obviously, Seven and Ten have a different methodology to us.
"It's been a 12-month period of us trying to get the broadcast rights and I suppose I feel the way I did in January, when Seven and Ten matched our offer with Nine. It's been a period of 12 months almost to the day since the AFL accepted our bid and our offer has been on the table since the beginning of the year.
"I think it's getting too late now to plan everything for next season and we're a fair ways apart."
Foxtel's five-year relationship with the AFL has been in trouble since the pay-TV provider announced in August that it would close its 24-hour, seven-day Fox Footy Channel.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said then he believed the game would return to free-to-air full-time, and while the league has been privately barracking for a successful Foxtel bid, it is believed that Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd chief James Packer has resisted lifting the pay-TV bid while Seven boss Kerry Stokes has become more determined to retain all AFL rights on free-to-air.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/12/19/1166290544951.html
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On the other hand The Australian still believes there's hope of a deal:
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Foxtel big money flies with $70m for AFL
Mark Day
The Australian
December 20, 2006
PAY-TV provider Foxtel has lodged a revised offer for AFL rights worth up to $70 million, but reached no agreement with the Seven and Ten consortium.
Premier Media Group chief David Malone made the offer late yesterday on behalf of Foxtel and its regional affiliate, Austar. Premier runs the Fox Sports channels, which are carried by both providers.
It is understood Foxtel's $70 million a year offer yesterday was made up of $50 million in cash plus $7.5 million worth of contra advertising. Foxtel also offered to pick up production costs that could be valued at up to $15 million a year.
Seven and Ten rejected the Foxtel offer at yesterday's meeting but the possibility of further talks was left open.
A source at Seven, which has the $780 million five-year AFL rights contract, said several issues were under discussion, and talks would probably continue today and tomorrow. "There is still a fair bit of daylight between us. It's not massive, but there is no agreement."
Under the terms of its deal with the AFL, Seven and Ten are bound to broadcast all eight games a week live on free-to-air television if no deal is done to on-sell up to four live games a week to pay-TV.
Seven/Ten have demanded $60 million a year for four games, up from $36 million a year paid under the previous rights deal for three games a week. During six months of negotiations, Foxtel has refused to budge from its original $45 million offer for four games.
It is understood Austar contributed most of the extra $5million cash in yesterday's offer.
Greg Baxter, a spokesman for News Limited (publisher of The Australian), which owns 25 per cent of Foxtel, said the Seven/Ten rejection was "an extraordinary outcome, given our last offer, valued at $70 million, is well above the last ask by Seven and Ten of $60 million".
"The great shame is that footy fans, particularly in northern states, are set to be deprived yet again of the coverage that they deserve."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20954848-2722,00.html
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1. I believe today is Wednesday December 20, 2006 :thumbsup
2. I believe the average punter no longer cares about the TV rights :thumbsup
3. I believe that as of today Wednesday - Footy in 2007 will be on FTA only
I also believe that tomorrow is another day and that number 3 listed above probably will change because tomorrow as I said is another day... :scream
However I will always believe that the status of number 2 will not change today, tomorrow or next week let alone next year :thumbsup
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AFL rights stand-off tragic, says Austar chief
The Australian
Michael Bodey
December 21, 2006
THE chief of regional subscription TV operator Austar, John Porter, has called the stand-off over AFL rights a "tragedy".
"I've never seen a deal in 30 years that made more sense, that didn't get done," said Mr Porter.
"It makes a huge amount of sense for the broadcasters, a huge amount of sense for our industry and distributors and, most importantly, it would be a compelling outcome for the viewers."
The consortium of the Seven and Ten networks on Tuesday night rejected Foxtel's revised offer of $50 million in cash, plus contra and production, in a move that flummoxed Foxtel management.
The offer is believed to be $8 million to $10 million short of Seven and Ten's cash demand, despite Foxtel's total package equating to $70 million.
Given the sale multiples of 13.3 and 11.7 recently attained by Seven Media and PBL Media, Ten's failure to take Foxtel's cash is a decision potentially worth $400-$500 million.
Sources close to negotiations suggest that two of Foxtel's owners, Telstra and News Limited (publisher of The Australian), and Austar remain willing to raise the cash component, but Foxtel's negative board control means Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd, which holds 25 per cent, continues to limit its negotiating power. The AFL had also expressed concerns to Foxtel, suggesting it would not negotiate for the next round of AFL broadcast rights from 2012 unless it raised its offer from its original $45 million for four games per week.
Austar's Mr Porter did not rule out Foxtel continuing negotiations, although Austar is ready to negotiate for regional rights if Foxtel's national bid (of which Austar is a party) falters. "Our proposal is not in competition with the main deal, our position is as a back-up," Mr Porter said.
A deal with Austar would assist Seven and Ten's bottom line but complicate matters with its regional affiliates.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20959552-2722,00.html
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Ch 10 won the toss for covering next year's Grand Final. Seven will host the Brownlow and preseason GF.
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Ten to screen 2007 GF
5:53:34 PM Thu 21 December, 2006
Sportal for afl.com.au
Ten's coin toss victory came amid confirmation that all eight AFL games each week in 2007 will be telecast on free-to-air TV. Negotiations between Ten and Seven to sell up to four games each week to Foxtel broke down once and for all earlier this week.
Seven and Ten will each televise four games each weekend.
Seven will show one game on a Friday night, two on a Saturday and one on a Sunday afternoon
Ten will have two Saturday games and two Sunday games – the 1pm game and the new twilight fixture.
Seven is still keen to off-load Friday night matches to community broadcaster Channel 31 in Sydney and Brisbane.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=310943
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Seems a dumb decision all round and does nothing for increasing coverage in the northern growth states. Foxtel need AFL for their southern state audiences and Seven and Ten need the $$$ to pay for their tv $780m deal with the AFL.
Also, as much as this is good for those without Foxtel like me who can now watch any of 22 (plus :pray) Tiges matches, 8 games on FTA back to back to back is just too much footy IMO. They'll kill the golden goose.
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Ten, Seven divide finals spoils
Caroline Wilson
December 22, 2006
CHANNEL Ten yesterday won the toss to televise the 2007, 2009 and 2011 AFL grand finals, with that network's sports chief, David White, later confirming that Ten and Seven would next year televise all eight free-to-air home-and-away games.
And the Seven Network unofficially confirmed late yesterday that it was negotiating with SBS in a bid to solve its Friday-night Sydney and Brisbane dilemma, while the AFL continued to emphasise it would not allow Channel 31 to show any league games.
Seven chief executive David Leckie is understood to have met SBS boss Shaun Brown, who was positive about the prospect of televising football on Friday nights in the two northern capital cities subject to board approval.
And further underlining Seven and Ten's determination to go it alone without Foxtel, the two networks met yesterday after the coin toss to divide up its Saturday matches.
The AFL's new media partnership is expected to approach league boss Andrew Demetriou next month in a bid to stagger the two Saturday-night games, which under the current draw would result in the two stations running head to head on most occasions.
Channel Ten, which has first choice of every Saturday-night game, has selected the grand final rematch between Sydney and West Coast at Telstra Stadium on March 31 as its opening Saturday-night game, which would potentially go head to head with the Brisbane Lions-Hawthorn clash at the Gabba on Channel Seven. Seven has first choice of Saturday-afternoon games.
Another highlight for Ten yesterday was its securing of the round-11 Saturday night game between the Lions and the Western Bulldogs, when Dogs recruit Jason Akermanis will face his old team for the first time.
As media experts lament the failure of the two networks to secure an agreement with Foxtel, the AFL remains disappointed with the potential loss of its pay-TV provider, but the prospect of any agreement appears increasingly remote.
"I have found the process frustrating," said Ten's White yesterday, "but I'm looking forward to the challenge of four games on Ten and I'm delighted we will again be televising the grand final."
Following the apparent final breakdown of talks between Seven, Ten and Foxtel three days ago, Ten moved into top gear, signing up its on-air commentary teams along with its production crews for 2007.
Ten confirmed that retired Lion Michael Voss would provide special comments on its Saturday and Sunday games, while Seven's two-day production meeting in Melbourne this week was working on four televised games a week. Channel Ten chairman Nick Falloon and White met Leckie at Seven's Sydney headquarters yesterday.
The group moved onto a pier at the back of Seven's office with Leckie tossing a 20-cent coin and White successfully calling tails as the coin was in the air. The most anticipated coin toss involving broadcasters in Australian television of recent years allegedly had
Seven staffers practising the action with various coins in the belief that Falloon would call and that he would choose heads.
As a result of that lucky victory, Ten will host three and Seven two of the next five grand finals, with the non-grand final host on any given year televising the Brownlow Medal, the pre-season grand final and taking first choice of games in the first three weeks of the AFL finals.
8 GAMES ON 7, 10:
HOW IT WILL WORK
ROUND 1
Friday, March 30 Melbourne v St Kilda, 7.40pm
7
Saturday, March 31Kangaroos v Coll'wood, 2.10pm
7
10 Fremantle v Port, 4.10pm
7 Bris Lions v Hawthorn, 7.10pm
10 Sydney v West Coast, 7.10pm
Sunday, April 1Adelaide v Essendon, 1.10pm
10
7 W Bulldogs v Geelong, 2.10pm
10 Carlton v Richmond, 4.40pm
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/12/21/1166290679693.html
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SBS to telecast AFL matches
Michael Bodey
The Australian
December 22, 2006
SBS is likely to broadcast Friday night AFL matches live into Sydney and Brisbane next year.
The Australian understands that the Seven Network and SBS are in active discussions.
The deal is still subject to negotiations and approval by the SBS board.
It is understood that SBS would take the live feed direct from Seven, the only complication being SBS's inability to carry more than five minutes of advertising an hour.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20963155-2722,00.html
Under the AFL TV contract, Friday and Saturday night matches must be broadcast live or near-live into NSW and Queensland.
SBS is considering a proposal from Seven to broadcast the Friday night matches into those states, and may attempt to do so via its secondary channel, available only to digital subscribers.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20961875%255E20322,00.html
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It is understood that SBS would take the live feed direct from Seven, the only complication being SBS's inability to carry more than five minutes of advertising an hour.
As a pay-TV subsciber this is where I'm disappointed, from a selfish perspective. The more goals, the more ads now. I'm used to ad-free live games and replays.
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It is understood that SBS would take the live feed direct from Seven, the only complication being SBS's inability to carry more than five minutes of advertising an hour.
As a pay-TV subsciber this is where I'm disappointed, from a selfish perspective. The more goals, the more ads now. I'm used to ad-free live games and replays.
Too bad SBS are taking a live feed from Seven and not doing their own broadcast. They were impressive with the Ashes and World Cup coverage plus there's no ads interrupting the game.
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Risking a schedule fit to burst
Rohan Connolly
The Age
December 31, 2006
YOU only had to turn on the box for five minutes at some stage this year to observe just how much of 2006 was spent looking back.
With television in this country celebrating its 50th anniversary, there seemed to be a cavalcade of most memorable this, our favourite that and top 10 such-and-suches.
Sport featured prominently in many of those nostalgiafests, this year also the 50th anniversary of Melbourne's hosting of the Olympic Games, a milestone that managed to spawn not a lot less publicity than did the original.
AFL football did its share of reflecting, too. It was 40 years since St Kilda's famous one and only premiership, and 10 years since the dramatic "year that football changed forever" with its ill-fated attempt to merge Hawthorn and Melbourne, birth of the Brisbane Lions and death of Fitzroy.
Yet there's another football anniversary falling today that has slipped completely under the radar, and with pretty good reason. It's not an auspicious occasion — perhaps more a reminder that as all-consuming as we often like to think is our indigenous game, even a football-mad public can be served up too much of a good thing.
It was six years ago tonight that Carlton and Collingwood graced the MCG for the much-vaunted "game of the millennium", a pre-season cup clash dragged forward a couple of months in a bid to cash in on the dawning of the new year and new century. It seemed like a good idea at the time. This was Melbourne, the home of sport, where you could draw a huge crowd to watch two spiders race up a wall. A game involving the AFL's most famous and bitter rivals. And a town where too much football is never enough.
Except this night. The pre-game hype had predictions of a crowd as big as 65,000. The reality was 50,000 less, only 15,000 witnessing Carlton's 88-point demolition of the Magpies, and a 12-goal haul from a controversy-free Brendan Fevola. (Yes, it was a long time ago.)
About the only thing the millennium game proved was that even a sport that has spawned an appetite supposedly as insatiable as the football fan's, there are limits. And scheduling a game before the turn of a new year, let alone a new football year, clearly breached them.
You won't see an official AFL game late in December again. Nor, hopefully, one in January. But come next football year, under the terms of the new broadcasting agreement, even without pay television, it looks like you'll be presented with enough football on free-to-air TV every weekend to make your head spin.
At least it will come within the confines of a time far more associated with the season than a New Year's Eve. But that might not make death (of interest) by football overdose any less a possibility.
Even those of us who love the game with a passion have our breaking point. Let alone those whose interest is less rabid, or, heaven forbid, only passing. And all groups will be sorely tested by the weekly football marathons in store next year.
The fable of the goose and the golden egg comes to mind, not just when it comes to the punters, but particularly for the two networks entrusted with getting about 24 hours of televised football to air each weekend next season.
Should Foxtel fail to pull off a last-second Lazarus and networks Seven and Ten split the eight games a week, you're going have to work pretty hard to miss the sight of 36 blokes chasing a ball around.
And the two stations are going to have to work even harder to make what initially might have seemed a potential ratings bonanza pay off in ratings terms, as the simultaneous glut of football on the box threatens to become a mutual throat-cutting exercise.
Those heathen folk who choose to watch something other than AFL on a Saturday night once in a while won't be appeased much whether the league ends up agreeing to the two networks' request to stagger the starting times of two games, the choice being either two stations televising the same product at once or at least one screening a game over an even longer stretch.
SBS's Iron Chef has embarrassed AFL in the ratings stakes before. The fever-pitched cooking show could really baste its timeslot opponents in 2007 as it picks up a bigger share of the football unfriendly.
The fanatics, meanwhile, who'd been happy to pay a Foxtel subscription to have access to eight games a week, might be able to do so free next season, but, in the advent of staggered Saturday night starting times, perhaps have to give up a meal time or two, with games possibly scheduled to begin on the box at 2.30, 4.30, 6.30 and 8.30pm. There's fanaticism, and then there's obsession, and that sort of commitment leans more towards the latter.
Of course, those who can stick it out will be rewarded with their share of memorable football. They'll also witness plenty of the sort that makes a few hours tending the garden a far more pleasurable proposition. Serve champagne on tap and in time, it will start to taste like water.
It was Collingwood president Eddie McGuire who six years ago predicted that turnout of 65,000 for the millennium game. Even a man who loves footy as much as McGuire learned something out of that.
You'd never suggest Eddie wants the game to suffer now, but as chief executive of the Nine network, watching rivals try to wade through a football schedule bursting at the seams, there's something to be gained from a stark reminder that even for AFL, less might well be more.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/12/30/1166895525107.html
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Foxtel back in the picture
Sasha Shtargot
The Age
January 19, 2007
THE prospect of eight free-to-air AFL games on television each week could be over as speculation mounted last night that Foxtel had been included in a coverage deal.
Channels Seven and Ten, who from this season will jointly televise football for the next five years, have been in on-off negotiation with Foxtel. The Age reported in December that Foxtel was prepared to up its bid to $50 million a year for the right to broadcast four AFL home-and-away games a week. Channels Seven and Ten, in turn, were believed to be prepared to drop their asking price from $60 million to $55 million. Foxtel has previously insisted on a price of $45 million. The two free-to-air stations paid the AFL $780 million for the broadcast rights.
Several Melbourne radio broadcasters yesterday suggested a deal had been done, but TV networks were tightlipped.
Foxtel spokeswoman Rebecca Melkman would not comment on whether the channel had secured football coverage rights, nor whether it would make an announcement today.
The resolution of next season's coverage has been a hot topic for months as Ten and Seven have negotiated with other networks, including SBS, to finalise the programming. Channel 31 was also briefly on the radar.
For some time, the prospect of eight free-to-air games televised by Seven and Ten has tantalised football fans.
In December, talks between the two networks and Foxtel broke down, raising the likelihood of such a prospect. Foxtel's $50 million cash bid to buy and televise four home-and-away games was rejected at the time.
Foxtel's relationship with the AFL has been in trouble since the pay-TV provider announced last August that it would close its 24-hour, seven-day footy channel.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/01/18/1169095911896.html
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Fox ups AFL bid
19 January 2007 Herald-Sun
Damian Barrett
FOXTEL has re-entered AFL broadcasting talks with Channels 7 and 10, and is close to securing rights to telecast four weekly matches.
The pay-TV network this week increased an offer that was rejected by the free-to-air stations in late December.
With the NAB Cup starting on February 23, all three networks are working towards finalising pre-season and premiership season TV schedules in the next two weeks.
Foxtel's previous offer to Seven and Ten was $50 million cash, $7 million contra and a commitment to production costs (about $12 million) for each year of the 2007-11 deal.
Seven and Ten paid $780 million for the rights.
If accepted, Foxtel would broadcast four of the eight weekly matches, including the twilight fixture on Sunday nights.
Foxtel's bid has been assisted by input from country region pay-TV provider Austar.
AFL chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLachlan said the 2007-11 TV contract would guarantee quality coverage, regardless of the breakdown of broadcasters.
"What Seven and Ten have been going through is a negotiation around sub-licensing and that is their responsibility and I understand why those discussions have taken a long time," McLachlan said.
"We are talking about big numbers and a big deal, and it is not embarrassing for anyone that it has taken this long."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21083079%255E20322,00.html
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Not surprised. Foxtel needed AFL otherwise they would have lost many subscribers in the southern states and Seven-Ten needs Foxtel to help pay for the hefty rights.
I see Foxtel will be televising the Sunday twilight fixtures and we have 4 of them :(.
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Huddo said on SEN yesterday that something could be happening today (the yawn fest continues) ::) ;D :help :whistle
Just on Channel 7 and the footy has anyone else seen the ads during the Tennis promoting the footy?
It is excellent! :clapping
It involves having tennis players hitting footies around the tennis court – they super imposed footies where the actually tennis balls would be – it’s very impressive!
:thumbsup
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Seen that ad, I like it :thumbsup
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This could still linger till the second week of February ::)
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Foxtel sweetens pot for AFL deal by extra $10m
Michael Sainsbury
The Australian
January 20, 2007
A DEAL to show four AFL matches a week on pay-TV has edged closer, with Foxtel putting as much as $10million extra in advertising and promotions on the table during resumed talks with networks Seven and Ten.
The free-to-air stations rejected a bid from Foxtel in late December, which included $5million from regional pay-TV group Austar, to screen four games a week.
But the latest offer from Foxtel, which totals about $60 million in cash and contra, as well as a $10 million contribution to production costs, is understood to have resuscitated almost year-long talks. Contra is largely on-air and other advertising and promotions of AFL broadcasts.
"A deal is closer than it has ever been," a source familiar with the talks said.
Under Seven and Ten's $780million contract with the AFL, all games, eight each weekend, must be screened live - a sure-fire winner in the southern states but a ratings disaster in league-friendly NSW, ACT and Queensland.
The answer is seen to lie in selling four games a week to Foxtel, allowing the free-to-air networks to broadcast big-rating shows to compete with Nine's coverage of rugby league.
If a deal with Foxtel cannot be struck, Seven and Ten may be forced to screen four AFL games each, playing havoc with their programming schedules. On Saturdays, Seven and Ten would be forced to go head-to-head with live football in the afternoons and evenings. This would split the audience, and is causing scheduling tensions between the partners over who should carry games that will be ratings losers in some markets.
Seven is understood to be working on a fallback position in which games would be broadcast on a combination of SBS and community station Channel 31.
For Foxtel, which is 25 per cent owned by The Australian's publisher News Limited, it would leave a huge hole in its winter sports schedule, potentially alienating subscribers.
But for Fox Sports, co-owned by News and James Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, it would mean a drop in advertising and subscription revenues in the southern states.
Foxtel, 25 per cent owned by PBL and 50 per cent owned by Telstra, has taken a tough line in negotiations.
The talks were launched after Seven and Ten beat rival Nine, also owned by PBL, by paying $780 million for a five-year deal to screen AFL matches.
The losing Nine bid included a deal with Foxtel worth between $45 million and $60 million for four games a week.
In 2001, a syndicate of Nine, Ten, Foxtel and Telstra seized the rights from Seven, which had held them with only a short interruption, for more than 20 years.
One observer suggested that Foxtel would want to strike a deal before the second week in February, the deadline for its program guide for March, when the season kicks off.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21087976-2722,00.html
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Just on Channel 7 and the footy has anyone else seen the ads during the Tennis promoting the footy?
It is excellent! :clapping
It involves having tennis players hitting footies around the tennis court – they super imposed footies where the actually tennis balls would be – it’s very impressive!
:thumbsup
Finally saw it for the first time last night. Gets the thumbsup :thumbsup
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On SEN yesterday, Anthony Hudson wouldn't elaborate but reckons the issue will be resolved in the next 36 hours. Make of that what you will.
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I hope so. I'm really quite sick of this whole saga ::)
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More goss (from BB):
Steve Perkin from the Herald Sun said on SEN this morning that an announcement may be made before this weekend and that Fox 3 will probably take two games (would've thought it was four ???).
Seven only want 2 games and have said so a few times and they are currently planning on doing only 2 having hired only 1 commentary team and only have 1 AFL OB truck on order.
Ten are now promoting their 2 games.
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Pay TV strikes a deal on AFL
Mark Day
The Australian
February 01, 2007
AN end is in sight to the year-long tussle between pay-TV providers Foxtel and Austar and AFL rights holders the Seven and Ten networks. An announcement that Foxtel and Austar will show four live games each week is expected by the end of next week.
It is understood the parties have agreed on price, and all that remains before an announcement is some work to tidy up detailed and complex scheduling arrangements.
Both sides in the often acrimonious negotiations have come under mounting pressure in recent weeks to reach an agreement. The Ten network has been desperate to remove the overhang of substantial annual losses on its AFL contract from the information memorandum being circulated for its possible sale, and Foxtel has come under renewed pressure from the AFL not to desert the code it so enthusiastically adopted in 2001.
After 10 months of refusing to budge on its original offer of $45 million for four live games a week, Foxtel submitted an enhanced offer in December. This tipped in a $5 million extra contribution from regional pay-TV provider Austar, took over several million dollars worth of annual production costs, and offered $7.5 million in contra advertising.
Two weeks ago the Foxtel contra offer was increased to $10 million a year. This was seen as a way of satisfying the demands of Foxtel part-owner James Packer, in that Foxtel did not pay Seven more than it had offered to pay Nine in its bid for AFL rights.
Nine held AFL rights from 2001 to 2006, and bid $780 million - or $156 million a year - for the 2007 to 2011 rights. This included a Foxtel component of $45 million a year for four games, and a contra budget of $18 million a year.
Under a $20 million first and last rights option purchased by Seven in 1995, Seven was able to match the Nine offer and secure the rights on identical terms. But it had no agreement with Foxtel, which it was suing in the long-running C7 restrictive trades practices Federal Court case.
Under the Seven-Ten consortium's agreement with the AFL, it must show all eight games a week live on free-to-air TV if it failed to on-sell up to four games a week to pay-TV.
Seven demanded $60 million cash for the rights to four games, plus contra to take the total to $70 million a year. Its negotiating position was that it made greater economic sense to show all eight games a week, even though Seven and Ten would be programming against each other on Saturdays and Sundays, than to allow Foxtel access at bargain basement prices.
With the extra Austar money, plus the new contra offer, the Foxtel offer has reached Seven's demand. Seven and Ten now believe Foxtel and Austar's offer to shoulder $10 million a year in contra frees up enough air time for them to benefit from extra paid sales.
Seven is also absolved of a scheduling nightmare with AFL Friday night games. While these will give the network strength in the southern markets, it faced a rating disaster in the NRL markets of NSW, ACT and Queensland, where Nine will broadcast Friday night double-header matches.
Seven was negotiating with SBS and community station Channel 31 to offload the matches, but with Foxtel on board the scheduling problems disappear.
Observers believe Foxtel was under pressure to do a deal with the consortium. Austar was increasingly concerned that its subscribers would react strongly against the loss of AFL - a view shared by Foxtel co-owners News Limited (publisher of The Australian) and Telstra.
It is understood the AFL also told Foxtel that if it abandoned AFL, or sought to set a new, lower floor price for future rights, it would not be in a strong position to negotiate in 2010, when the next agreement will be on the table.
In 2010 there will be no first and last rights agreements in place, and pay-TV and free-to-air rights may be negotiated separately after a review of anti-siphoning laws due that year.
None of the parties involved in the negotiations would comment yesterday.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21149551-2722,00.html
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The AFL are now back involved in this neverending saga :juggle
League brokers talks
03 February 2007 Herald-Sun
Damian Barrett
HAVING left the networks to their own devices for 393 days, the AFL attempted to end its broadcasting saga yesterday when it hosted a high-powered gathering of TV heavyweights at its Melbourne headquarters.
The meeting, which included Kim Williams from Foxtel, Ian Johnson of Seven and David White of Ten, was chaired by AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, with his No. 2 Gillon McLachlan also there.
It lasted three hours and was the first time since January 5 last year that the AFL had formally entered negotiations on its 2007-11 broadcast deals.
The networks ended yesterday's meeting amicably, with strong talk that an in-principle deal had been struck.
Clearly tired of the protracted talks between the free-to-air and pay-TV networks, the AFL is understood to have demanded resolution by the end of next week, and possibly as early as Monday.
Foxtel boss Williams said he was pleased with yesterday's meeting.
"Yes, it went well, thank you," Williams told the Herald Sun as he left AFL headquarters.
Asked if a deal with Seven and Ten was close, he said: "You never know."
Discussions at yesterday's AFL-chaired gathering centred on Foxtel broadcasting four of the eight weekly home-and-away matches -- two on Saturday and two Sunday, including exclusivity on the new Sunday twilight timeslot.
Those plans would see Seven broadcast games on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons; Ten on Saturday afternoons and Saturday nights.
Foxtel would also broadcast matches live or near-live into New South Wales and Queensland on Friday and Saturday nights, a key facet of the 2007-11 broadcasting contract.
The scheduling breakdown for the NAB Cup is unknown, but may be left to Seven and Ten.
For each year of the five-year TV deal, Foxtel is offering Seven and Ten $50 million cash, between $7 and $10 million contra and $12 million in production costs.
Seven and Ten paid $780 million for the 2007-11 AFL rights when they matched a Channel 9-Foxtel bid.
The AFL's decision to force all networks into the one room yesterday indicated its desperation in wanting the impasse resolved.
It had constantly, and as recently as two weeks ago, said it would not enter the negotiations, arguing its contract with Seven and Ten was watertight and that it was the free-to-air stations' responsibility to settle on all terms.
The NAB Cup begins on February 23, and the premiership season on March 30.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21162488%255E19742,00.html
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I was just watching the Ford ranger Domestic one game between SA & WA and one of the commentators, Ryan Campbell, when rabbitting on about Fox Sports content in 2007 said something like "NRL blah blah and now the AFL footy".
Darren Berry said the CEO would be rapted with that announcement - Kim "we don't need AFL footy" Williams probably choked on his lobster :rollin
Oops ;D
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yes was talking to a bloke at work today whose bro inlaw is a cameraman with fox
and he reckons they will actually resurect the AFL channel again for this season
and show the 4 live games and replays of every game
he wasnt sure about any other content for the channel :-\
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The next TV rights deal in 2012 could be worth $1 billion over 5 years.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22941238%255E19742,00.html
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Fantastic for the strength and future of the competition. The more interest and network rivalry the better for footy. Only one bidder equals little money for the AFL but simmering aggression and irrational competitiveness equals a huge pay load for everyone! :thumbsup
I also believe with the inclusion of a 17th and more than likely an 18th team this will further assist increasing the value of the rights with the additional games and interest generated. Another reason for the 2011 timeline to coincide with the TV rights.
I find the prospect exciting for the competition and our club.
Stripes
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Right about the time we rise to glory ;D :thumbsup :pray